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Seasonal trends of viral respiratory tract infections in the tropics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 1998

F. T. CHEW
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore
S. DORAISINGHAM
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital
A. E. LING
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital
G. KUMARASINGHE
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, National University Hospital, Singapore
B. W. LEE
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore
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Abstract

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To evaluate the seasonal trends of viral respiratory tract infections in a tropical environment, a retrospective survey of laboratory virus isolation, serology and immunofluorescence microscopy in two large general hospitals in Singapore between September 1990 and September 1994 was carried out. Respiratory tract viral outbreaks, particularly among infants who required hospitalization, were found to be associated mainly with respiratory syncytial (RSV) infections (72%), influenza (11%) and parainfluenza viruses (11%). Consistent seasonal variations in viral infections were observed only with RSV (March–August) and influenza A virus (peaks in June, December–January). The RSV trends were associated with higher environmental temperature, lower relative humidity and higher maximal day-to-day temperature variation. Although the influenza A outbreaks were not associated with meteorological factors, influenza B isolates were positively associated with rainfall. These data support the existence of seasonal trends of viral respiratory tract infections in the tropics.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press