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PubMed1989

Clinical manifestations of respiratory tract infections due to respiratory syncytial virus and rhinoviruses in hospitalized children.

From September 1984 to May 1986, nasopharyngeal secretions were obtained from 519 children with some form of respiratory tract infection. The nasal secretions were screened for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, parainfluenza virus types 1, 2, 3, influenza virus types A and B, and enteroviruses by tissue culture virus isolation technique and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A uniform questionnaire gave information about age, sex, individual signs and symptoms, findings of the physical examination and clinical diagnosis of the patients. RSV was detected in 119 (23%) specimens and was thus the most frequent causative agent of respiratory infections. After RSV, rhinoviruses were the most frequently recovered pathogens accounting for 60 (12%) cases of acute respiratory disease. A comparison of the individual signs and symptoms, the findings of the physical examination and the clinical diagnosis of RSV and rhinovirus infected children revealed that there was no characteristic clinical pattern associated with either of the two viral respiratory pathogens. According to our results, rhinovirus infections were a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children less than or equal to 3 years old.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1991

Etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infections in Gambian children: I. Acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants presenting at the hospital.

Ninety infants less than 1 year of age with pneumonia and 43 control infants were investigated for viral and chlamydial infection with the use of culture and serology and for bacterial infection with the use of blood cultures, lung aspirates, antibody assays and antigen detection procedures. One or more potential pathogens were identified in 62 (69%) cases with pneumonia and in 12 (28%) controls. Infection by respiratory viruses was identified in 42 (49%) cases and in 8 (19%) controls. Respiratory syncytial virus was the commonest pathogen identified and was found in 32 cases (37%). Bacterial infections were also common, being found in 27 (30%) cases and 3 (7%) controls, and predominantly involved Streptococcus pneumoniae (20%) or Haemophilus influenzae (11%). Bacterial infections were associated with raised white blood cell counts and were identified more often by antigen detection procedures (68%) than by culture of blood or lung aspirates (34%) or by serology (33%). Mixed viral-bacterial infections were identified in 13 cases (15%). Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis was diagnosed in 2 infants with acute lower respiratory tract infection and in 1 control infant.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

[Significance of PRRS virus infections for respiratory tract infections in swine--a literature review].

The paper summarises present knowledge concerning the possible role of a virus which has in the meantime been classified as belonging to the arteriviridae and which causes PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome), in the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases four years after first isolation of the virus. Although the fact that PRRSV-infection produces an immunity which protects swine from repeated bouts of PRRSV is common knowledge by now, reinfection with the virus might be possible. An immunosuppression, which has been suggested by many investigators, and which was thought to be the result of destruction of alveolar macrophages during virus replication, was not found as yet. The significance of the extent and the duration of the decrease in the number of alveolar macrophages, which belong to the unspecific immunity, for the total immune system of swine infected with PRRSV remains unclear. A general impairment of specific immunity through PRRSV-infection could not be shown. The present role of PRRS for the pathogenesis of respiratory disease is seen very differently. The significance of PRRSV as primary cause of an "influenza-like" illness which is principally followed by severe bacterial infection of the respiratory tract, is questioned by the results of studies which identify PRRSV-infection as a mainly subclinical disease. In these studies, clinical cases are the exemption. Attempts at experimental reproduction of a clinically manifest, respiratory disease was not successful as yet. The paper describes factors which might be responsible for these variable results. Control of PRRS is difficult in areas with a high density of the swine population, since the spreading of the virus with the wind seems to be important besides the recruitment of new, infected animals. A vaccine has not yet been registered in Germany. First experimental experiences with vaccination are available from Denmark and the USA.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Epidemiology and prevention of group A streptococcal infections: acute respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and their sequelae at the close of the twentieth century.

Infections of the upper respiratory tract and skin due to group A Streptococcus are common, and the organism is highly transmissible. In industrialized countries and to some extent in developing countries, control efforts continue to emphasize that group A streptococcal pharyngitis should be properly diagnosed and appropriately treated. In developing countries and in indigenous populations where the burden of group A streptococcal diseases appears greatest, the epidemiology is less completely defined and may differ from that in industrialized countries. There is a need for accurately collected epidemiological data from developing countries, which may also further clarify the pathogenesis of group A streptococcal infections and their sequelae. While proper treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis continues to be essential in all populations, it may be appropriate in developing countries to consider additional strategies to reduce rates of pyoderma.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus infection in Italian infants hospitalized for acute lower respiratory tract infections, and association between respiratory syncytial virus infection risk factors and disease severity.

This study was designed to collect data on the prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in Italy in infants hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infections, and to evaluate which of the recognized risk factors might be associated with disease severity. Thirty-two centers throughout Italy participated in the study. Over a 6-month period (November 1,1999 to April 30, 2000), we evaluated all children < 2 years of age hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infections. All subjects were tested for RSV within 24 hr of hospitalization by using an immuno-enzymatic diagnostic test (Abbott Testpack, RSV). Logistic regression was used to identify the factors that might be associated with more severe disease or could increase the likelihood of RSV positivity in hospitalized infants. Out of a total of 1,232 children enrolled, 40.6% were found to be RSV-positive (RSV+). The peak of the RSV epidemic occurred in February, while the lowest prevalence of RSV positivity was seen in November (P < 0.05). A high proportion of study subjects had low birth weight and low gestational age. The clinical diagnosis at hospitalization was bronchiolitis in 66.7%, pneumonia in 15.3%, and wheezy bronchitis in 18.1%. In the bronchiolitis group, a higher prevalence of RSV+ was found in patients with gestational age or= 36 weeks (P < 0.04). No differences were found in the proportion of RSV+ patients in the three gestational age subgroups with pneumonia and wheezy bronchitis (P > 0.05, each comparison). Independent of the clinical diagnosis at admission, RSV infection was associated with more severe respiratory impairment. Environmental smoke exposure was higher in subjects with bronchiolitis than in those with wheezy bronchitis (P < 0.04), and RSV+ was positively related with the birth order (P < 0.05). The presence of older siblings and birth order plays an important role in RSV infection. The collected data show that, in Italy, RSV is an important cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants. Gestational age, birth order, birth weight, and exposure to tobacco smoke affected the prevalence and severity of RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

A preventive measure for otitis media in children with upper respiratory tract infections.

Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) are very common in patients of all ages. Rhinitis, bronchitis, chronic sinusitis and otitis appear to be the prevalent forms of recurrent respiratory infections in the paediatric population. The aim of treatment is so the solution of the respiratory pathology and the also the prevention of their complications. Antibacterial therapy is still the classical treatment approach in patients both with respiratory tract infections and with otitis media, despite the fact that antibacterials have several well known drawbacks, especially when used to treat recurrent infections. Eighty-four paediatric patients of both sexes (range: 4-14 years) with otitis were enrolled in the study. Patients were included if they had a >2 years' history of recurrent or chronic respiratory infections, and/or had experienced at least three episodes requiring medical consultations and/or treatment during the winter prior to the study. The young patients were randomised to receive Immucytal (group A) or placebo (group B) treatment according to the following protocol: (1) starting therapy (1 month): one tablet daily in the morning 4 days per week for 3 consecutive weeks; (2) maintenance period (5 months): one tablet daily in the morning 4 days per week for 1 week every month. Placebo and Immucytal tablets were identical in shape and size, in order to maintain double-blind conditions. Patients of group A with recurrent URTI had a significantly decreased incidence of ENT infections, fever and shorter duration of illness, decreased requirement for ancillary medications and fewer work-days lost. The reduction in the incidence of infectious episodes became significant vs. placebo. A significantly improved outcome vs. placebo was also observed on the incidence of fever, frequency and duration of infectious episodes, ancillary therapies. Immucytal treatment was associated with significant changes in both immunological and auditory function parameters. Serum concentrations of immunoglobulins were significantly increased in Immucytal. For both evaluations, a significant difference between treatment groups was found (P>0.001). Preventive strategies, such as ribosomal immunotherapy, may represent a valid alternative approach.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory tract infection in children.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of viral lower respiratory tract infection that can be a life-threatening disease in infants and children. This study was conducted to look for independent risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory tract infection (RSV-LRI) that required oxygen supplementation or mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Medical records of patients younger than 4 years hospitalized with RSV-LRI at Shizuoka Red Cross Hospital from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1999 were reviewed. The patients were compared using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients were hospitalized with RSV-LRI at Shizuoka Red Cross Hospital from the study time period. Of these, 20 patients (12.7%) were diagnosed with severe RSV-LRI. Subjects younger than 3 months of age had an odds ratio (OR) of 59.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 14.7_244.0) for the dependent variable of severe RSV-LRI (P<0.0001). Subjects with a history of congenital heart disease also had an OR of 99.2 (95% C1 8.5-1160.1) (P<0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Infants younger than 3 months without any underlying diseases may be at high risk for severe RSV-LRI. Respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis is needed not only for high-risk patients, but for healthy early infants.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

Antimicrobial therapy of upper respiratory tract infections in children.

Respiratory tract infections still represent a serious medical problem, mainly in people with different dysfunctions of the immune system. That kind of infections frequently occurs in the children and in the elderly. The aim of the present work was to estimate paediatrician's preferences in antibiotics prescription and therapy effectiveness in cases of ambulatory bacterial upper respiratory tract infections in children. Paediatricians working in the Lublin area were asked to fill in an inquiry that estimated their preferences to the prescription of antibiotics in children. Additionally, the microbiological examinations were performed determining the treatment effectivity. The inquiry was filled by 47 persons. The most frequently prescribed antibiotic was cefuroxime (93.6%), and the macrolids were prescribed rarely. During infection state, the predominant strain isolated was S. aureus (70.5%) and S. pyogenes (14.7%). After treatment, there was a significant increase in C. albicans isolation (44.1%) and H. influenzae (20.5%). There was a significant fall in isolation of S. pyogenes and S. aureus. Antibiotic prescription without earlier determination of susceptibility to antimicrobial agents had an influence on the appearance of postantimicrobial candidiosis, establishment of carrier state and increasing resistance among bacteria.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2001

Frequency of pathogen occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility among community-acquired respiratory tract infections in the respiratory surveillance program study: microbiology from the medical office practice environment.

Continuing problems of antimicrobial resistance have prompted the initiation of several surveillance programs. Few, if any, of these programs focus on community-acquired respiratory tract infections seen in routine office-based practices. The Respiratory Surveillance Program (RESP; 1999-2000) in 674 community-based physician office practices in the United States determined the frequency of potential bacterial pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis in patients diagnosed clinically with community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, and sinusitis throughout all 9 US census/geographic regions. Susceptibility to the penicillins (ampicillin, penicillin), oral cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones (gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin), macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin), tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was determined by reference methods. Patients were required to have a culturable focus of infection, and specimens were immediately sent to a reference laboratory. Among 22,689 total specimens (610 community-acquired pneumonia, 4,779 acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, 16,213 sinusitis, 1,087 other), H influenzae was the most commonly isolated organism from patients with community-acquired pneumonia (38%) and acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (35%) in all nine geographic regions. S pneumoniae was isolated in 18% of community-acquired pneumonia cases, 13% of acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis cases, and 11% of sinusitis cases. M catarrhalis was most commonly isolated from the nasopharynx of patients with sinusitis (29%). High-level resistance to penicillin (2 microg/mL or greater; 16% overall) and the macrolides (32% to 35%) among S pneumoniae varied both with site of infection and with geographic region. The greatest resistance was observed among isolates from the nasopharynx of patients with sinusitis and from patients from the East South Central or South Atlantic regions of the United States. Although the susceptibility of H influenzae and M catarrhalis to the tested antimicrobials did not vary with the type of infection, beta-lactamase-mediated resistance to ampicillin among H influenzae ranged from 15% in New England to 32% in the East South Central region. The fluoroquinolones were highly active against these cultured isolates from community-acquired respiratory tract infection patients, with >99% of all S pneumoniae, H influenzae, and M catarrhalis strains susceptible to gatifloxacin (MIC(90), 0.5 microg/mL) and levofloxacin (MIC(90), 2 microg/mL). The extended-spectrum fluoroquinolones appear well suited for community-acquired respiratory tract infection therapy, including pathogens other than pneumococcus, H influenzae, and M catarrhalis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Upper respiratory tract infections.

Acute respiratory infections accounts for 20-40% of outpatient and 12-35% of inpatient attendance in a general hospital. Upper respiratory tract infections including nasopharyngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis and otitis media constitute 87.5% of the total episodes of respiratory infections. The vast majority of acute upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses. Common cold is caused by viruses in most circumstances and does not require antimicrobial agent unless it is complicated by acute otitis media with effusion, tonsillitis, sinusitis, and lower respiratory tract infection. Sinusitis is commonly associated with common cold. Most instances of rhinosinusitis are viral and therefore, resolve spontaneously without antimicrobial therapy. The most common bacterial agents causing sinusitis are S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, S. aureus and S. pyogenes. Amoxycillin is antibacterial of choice. The alternative drugs are cefaclor or cephalexin. The latter becomes first line if sinusitis is recurrent or chronic. Acute pharyngitis is commonly caused by viruses and does not need antibiotics. About 15% of the episodes may be due to Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus (GABS). Early initiation of antibiotics in pharyngitis due to GABS can prevent complications such as acute rheumatic fever. The drug of choice is penicillin for 10-14 days. The alternative medications include oral cephalosporins (cefaclor, cephalexin), amoxicillin or macrolides.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

How should we evaluate new anti-infectives for respiratory tract infections?

In assessing the outcomes of anti-infective therapy, microbiological and clinical efficacy have been the most important factors considered. However, increasing attention is being paid to pharmacoeconomic considerations, which include much more than simply the cost of the drug. Nursing and pharmacy time involved in drug preparation and administration, laboratory costs and time in therapeutic drug monitoring, and hospital costs for in-patient care are all factors to be considered. Therapeutic failure caused by using an inexpensive but ineffective drug can thus be very expensive if it leads to prolonged hospitalization. The effort to curb anti-infective drug costs has led to the following strategies: sequential therapy using equipotent oral formulations of intravenous agents; switch therapy, ie, changing to a different class; and step-down therapy, ie, converting to an oral antimicrobial with less potency. Maximal cost effectiveness is related to rapid and effective therapy.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2000

Therapy for respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus.

UNLABELLED: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common viral cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infancy and young children. No effective treatment for RSV lower respiratory tract infection (RSV-LRTI) exists. Ribavirin initially proved to be an effective anti-viral drug for RSV-LTRI. However, subsequently performed trials could not reproduce these positive results and, based on the current available evidence, there is no place for ribavirin in the routine treatment of RSV-LTRI. The use of nebulised bronchodilator therapy in RSV-LTRI has been subject of many trials, with conflicting results. Although the individual patient may have some short-term benefit from nebulised bronchodilators, there does not seem to be a sufficient scientific basis for the standard use of bronchodilator therapy in infants and children with RSV-LTRI. There is increasing evidence that RSV-LTRI is an immune-mediated disease and therefore corticosteroids may be an effective treatment. The results from efficacy trials have demonstrated that corticosteroids are not effective for patients with mild RSV infection. In contrast there are indications that it may be beneficial in patients with more severe RSV-LTRI. It has been demonstrated that in children with RSV infection the vitamin A concentration is inversely related to disease severity. The use of vitamin A in the treatment of patients with RSV-LTRI, however, proved not to be effective. Immunoprophylaxis with hyperimmune immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibody against the viral F-protein have been shown to be effective in the prevention of RSV-LRTI. From the results of the therapeutic efficacy trials, however, it can be discerned that immunoglobulins have no place in the treatment of RSV-LRTI. CONCLUSION: Although respiratory syncytial virus infections each year have a considerable socioeconomic impact, attempts to find an effective therapy have so far been quite unsuccessful. Anti-viral therapy with ribavirin has not been proven to be effective. Symptomatic therapy with bronchodilators may give only short-term relief of symptoms in some individual patients, but has no effect on hospitalisation rates, or duration of hospitalisation. The beneficial effect of corticosteroids in patients with mild respiratory syncytial virus infection is very disappointing, however, there are indications that there might be an effect in patients with more severe infection. So far no beneficial therapeutic effect has been demonstrated with immune globulins.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The evaluation of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms to show the significance of developing a quality-of-life evaluation instrument for upper respiratory tract infections to assess respiratory disorder-related disability.

In a majority of clinical trials in upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), it is now standard to include a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as a key outcome, and numerous clinicians are now adding QOL to routine clinical assessments. Because of this, the design of a disease-specific instrument for URTIs that has strong measurement properties and is more sensitive to minute changes is of great value in having an appropriate perception of what value patients put on their QOL and how changes in these values correlate with positive or negative progress in health. This is an attempt to show the significance and effects of URTIs on the affected patient and the potential genesis in the construction of a HRQOL evaluative tool named QOLAURTI, which, if eventually tested for interpretability with positive results, will measure fluctuations in a patient's QOL score that will correlate with minute but significant, moderate, or huge improvement or decline in a patient's QOL and also help in treating illness of URTI origin by classifying severity of illness. Relevant articles retrieved through PubMed and MEDLINE were cited to describe the impact of URTIs. Current published and available references outlining ways to construct an effective evaluative instrument that is based on the specific disease state and its impact on affected patients are employed to help construct a QOL questionnaire that could be effective in measuring the QOL of an affected patient. The construction of a potentially effective evaluative tool was achieved and is included here. However, since this tool was not tested due to inadequate numbers of test subjects and facilities required, its reliability, validity, and interpretability cannot be determined as of yet. Patients with URTIs are usually troubled by nasal symptoms and other symptoms including fatigue and headache. It can be inferred that suffering from these symptoms concomitantly can cause quite severe impairments of normal daily human protocol including physical, occupational, and social functioning and can also cause emotional distress. Because of the importance of the potential impact of these symptoms on affected individuals, a closer look into how these symptoms affect the HRQOL of an individual is important. The main goal in treating patients with URTIs is to make sure that all individual patient problems are recognized so that they can be treated properly. To achieve this, it is important to measure QOL. Research has shown that generic health-status questionnaires are able to compare burden of illness across different medical conditions but that they are not usually responsive enough to small but clinically essential changes in patients' QOL. Because of this, it is important to have a disease-specific instrument for URTIs that can measure the QOL of the affected individual. The main importance in measuring the QOL of the affected individual would be in assessing the potential effectiveness of drug therapies and treatment protocols used in treating URTIs.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus in children. Diagnosis and treatment.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common viral cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infancy and young children. No effective treatment for RSV lower respiratory tract infection (RSV-LRTI) exists. Ribavirine initially was reported to be an effective anti-viral drug for RSV-LRTI. However, subsequently performed trials could not reproduce these positive results and based on the current available evidence there is no place of ribavirin in the routine treatment of RSV-LRTI. The use of nebulised bronchodilator therapy in RSV-LRTI has been subject of many trials, with conflicting RESULTS. Although the individual patient may have some short term benefit of nebulised bronchodilators there does not seem to be a sufficient scientific base for the standard use of bronchodilator therapy in infants and children with RSV-LRTI. There is increasing evidence that RSV-LRTI is an immune-mediated disease and therefore corticosteroids may be an effective treatment. The results from efficacy trials have demonstrated that corticosteroids are not effective for patients with mild RSV infection. In contrast, there is some evidence suggesting that it may be beneficial in patients with more severe RSV-LRTI. Immunoprofylaxis with hyperimmune immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibody against the viral F-protein have been shown to be effective in the prevention of severe RSV-LRTI. From the results of the therapeutic efficacy trials, however, it is evident that immunoglobulins have no place in the treatment of RSV-LRTI. In conclusion, although RSV infections each year have a considerable socio-economic impact attempts to find an effective therapy have been quite unsuccessful so far.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗