RESUMEN
This study describes the first multicentered study of acute lower respiratory infection viral etiology in young children from four different geographical areas of Argentina. A total of 1,278 children under 5 years of age, hospitalized in primary care centers from Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa Fé and Mar del Plata cities during a 2-year period were studied (1993-1994). Nasopharyngeal aspirates were investigated for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, parainfluenza, and influenza A and B viruses by indirect immunofluorescence. Out of the patients studied, 946 (74%) were under 1 year of age. Viruses were detected in 399 patients (32%). RSV was observed in 25.3% of the samples, representing 78.2% of all viral positive cases. Adenoviruses were detected in 2.5% of the cases, parainfluenza in 2.2%, influenza A in 2.1%, and influenza B in 0.2%. Compared with other viruses, the higher RSV frequency was statistically significant (P < 0.000). Most RSV cases were detected between May and September with a significant peak in July (P < 0.000). Pneumonia was observed in 46% of the patients, bronchiolitis in 41% and other entities in 13%. The case fatality rate observed during the 2 year study was 0.73%. Most of the above respiratory viruses were detected in the four cities, however, the frequency of RSV and influenza were different in the southern city.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones del Sistema Respiratorio/virología , Virosis/virología , Enfermedad Aguda , Adenoviridae/aislamiento & purificación , Atención Ambulatoria , Argentina , Bronquiolitis Viral/epidemiología , Bronquiolitis Viral/virología , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Virus de la Influenza A/aislamiento & purificación , Virus de la Influenza B/aislamiento & purificación , Masculino , Nasofaringe/virología , Neumonía Viral/epidemiología , Neumonía Viral/virología , Pneumovirus/aislamiento & purificación , Virus Sincitiales Respiratorios/aislamiento & purificación , Infecciones del Sistema Respiratorio/epidemiología , Estaciones del Año , Virosis/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
In March 1995 the first case of a familiar outbreak of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) was notified in El Bolson, in the South of Argentina. Until December 15, 1996, a total of 77 cases of HPS had been notified with 48% mortality, distributed in three geographical areas of the country, South, North and Center. During 1996, of the 19 cases from El Bolsón, three were local physicians, one of whom -during the prodrome of her illness- travelled to Buenos Aires to be attended. In the hospital, two of the physicians who assisted her, developed HPS 27 and 28 days after the first contact. These data suggest for the first time the possibility of interhuman transmission of the Hantavirus responsible for the pulmonary syndrome.