Etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infection.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To identify pathogens responsible for acute severe lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in under five children by non-invasive methods. METHOD: 95 children hospitalized with acute severe lower respiratory tract infection were investigated for identification of viruses, bacteria, chlamydia or mycoplasma by nasopharyngeal aspirates, blood culture and serology. RESULT: Etiological agents could be identified in 94% of the patients. Viruses from NP aspirate could be isolated in 36 (38%), bacterial isolates from blood cultures in 15 (16%); mycoplasma was identified in 23 (24%) and chlamydia in 10 (11%) by serological tests; mixed infections were present in 8 (8%) patients. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive methods can be useful in identifying etiological agents in severe ALRTI.