An Epidemiological Study of Acute Viral Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Hospitalized Children from 2002 to 2006 in Seoul, Korea / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) in children are mostly caused by viruses. This study aimed to define the causative viruses, and clinical manifestations during 4 years (2002-2006) and to determine seasonal occurrence of viral ALRI in Korean children by using our cumulative 10 year data (1996-2006). METHODS: A total of 3,854 hospitalized patients due to viral ALRI at Samsung Medical Center, from October 2002 to July 2006, were analyzed. Nasopharyngeal aspirate was obtained for virus cultures. Respiratory viruses were identified using indirect immunofluorescent staining. RESULTS: Viral agents were isolated in 9.8% (378 cases). The common identified pathogens were parainfluenza virus type 3 (32.3%), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (29.6%) and adenovirus (14.0%). The clinical patterns of viral ALRI were pneumonia (73.0%), bronchiolitis (20.9%), croup (3.7%) and tracheobronchitis (2.4%). The occurrence of viral ALRI was highest under 2 years of age. Pneumonia developed mostly by parainfluenza virus type 3 and RSV. The most frequent cause of bronchiolitis was RSV. Croup was frequently caused by parainfluenza virus. During the past 10 years, infections with parainfluenza virus type 3 and RSV epidemically occurred, whereas adenovirus was isolated throughout the study period. CONCLUSION: We could look through the etiological aspect of ALRI among pediatric inpatients during 10 years in Seoul by adding this 4 year data to the former 6 years data in our hospital. Our results may contribute to prevention and control of viral respiratory tract infections.