Abstract
Background: Proper diagnosis is the first important step for optimal management of wheezing illness and respiratory infections. Excessive use of antibiotics is the important reason driving antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to determine the viral etiologies associated wheezing disorders and respiratory infections in hospitalized children.
Methods: This was a prospective study of pediatric patients admitted over two years due to respiratory complaints including asthma exacerbations, wheezing illness, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were obtained by standardized techniques. The detection of viruses was determined by immunofluorescence and multiplex PCR testing to detect commmon respiratory viruses and mycoplasma.
Results: A total of 1189 patients with 1409 admissions during the study period (male 62.7%, mean age at first admission 3.4 ± 3.5 years) were enrolled. There were 262 cases of asthma and 115 cases of wheezing illness, and 118 cases of pneumonia. 70% of the admitted children were under 5 years of age. Compared with patients diagnosed with ‘asthma’, the prevalence rate of human rhinovirus (HRV) being detected in the NPA was similar in those diagnosed with ‘wheezing illness’ (53.5% vs. 52.2%, p=0.3), whereas the detection of HRV was significantly lower in patients diagnosed with ‘bronchiolitis’ (38.5%, p=0.03).
Conclusions: The patterns of viral infections associated wiht the diagnois of ‘asthma’ and ‘wheezing illness’ are largely the same. Proper diagnosis of asthma may lead to proper asthma treatment. Most children with pneumonia were found to have a viral etiologies. Rapid detection of viral infections may help to minimize unnecessary antibiotic prescritption.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, PA298.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2019