Identification of viral agents in children with acute respiratory infection

Authors

  • Arlenis Oliva Falcón Hospital Pediátrico Universitario" William Soler"
  • Dianelvys Rosell Simón Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana. Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Pedro Kourí’’,

Keywords:

acute respiratory infection, viruses, molecular biology.

Abstract

Introduction: Acute respiratory infections represent a health problem in children, with high morbidity and high mortality rates.

Objective: To determine the circulation of respiratory viruses in children admitted with a diagnosis of acute respiratory infection, negative to COVID-19.

Methods: Descriptive observational study in 119 children with acute respiratory infection, in the ages from 0 to 6, and with hospital admission in the period from October 2021 to April 2022. Nasopharyngeal exudate samples were taken for virological study (real-time polymerase chain reaction). The variables studied were: age, sex, clinical diagnosis, period of occurrence and isolation of respiratory viruses.

Results: The female sex predominated with 51% and the age corresponding to the neonatal period with 50 %, followed by infants between 1 and 11 months (40%), and only 10% in the ages from 1 to 6 years. 42 % of the samples with a predominance of CoV229E (78%) were positive; other viruses such as influenza A (6 %), respiratory syncytial (6 %), CoVOC43 (2%) and rhinovirus (2%) were isolated. CoV229E was common in patients with high acute respiratory infection (48.7%), followed by severe acute respiratory infection (20.5%) and bronchiolitis (28.2%). Viral co-infection was detected only in severe acute respiratory infection, specifically by IFA/CoV229E (4%) and CoV229E/bocavirus (2%).

Conclusions: The importance of molecular biology for viral isolation is highlighted. The Coronavirus CoV229E has relevance in cases of acute high and severe respiratory infection mainly in children under 1 year old.

acute respiratory infection; viruses; molecular biology.

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Author Biographies

Arlenis Oliva Falcón, Hospital Pediátrico Universitario" William Soler"

Especialista en MGI y Microbiología y Parasitología, Master en Ciencias.

Dianelvys Rosell Simón, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana. Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Pedro Kourí’’,

Licenciada en Microbiología

Published

2022-09-29

How to Cite

1.
Oliva Falcón A, Rosell Simón D. Identification of viral agents in children with acute respiratory infection. Rev Cubana Pediatría [Internet]. 2022 Sep. 29 [cited 2025 Jun. 22];94(4). Available from: https://revpediatria.sld.cu/index.php/ped/article/view/2165

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