Determining of viral causes with antigen screening method in childs who admitted with upper and lover respiratory way infections

Introduction: The most important cause of morbidity and mortality at childhood period is acute respiratory tract infections. It is the most common reason of referring to a hospital. Upper respiratory way infections constitute 24.1% of pediatric clinic patients. Lower respiratory infections are responsible to 48.4% mortality in 0-1 aged children and 42.1% mortality in 1-4 aged children. Viruses constitute 80-90% of acute respiratory infections. The most of common viral causes are influenza virus, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).Objective: We determined the clinical characteristics and frequency of influenza virus, adenovirus and RSV, in patients who admitted with upper and lower respiratory system infections, with the antige screening method which is a sensitive method for nasopharyngeal smear samples. Epidemiology of influenza virus, adenovirus and RSV were reviewed according to months in city of Aydın.Materials and Methods: This study includes 200 children (aged between 0-13) who admitted to our hospital with upper and lower respiratory system infections between September 2009 and July 2010. The RSV, influenza and adenovirus antigens were screened by enzyme immunassay method (coris bioconsept, gembloux, belgium) in the nasopharyngeal swab. SPSS (statistical package for social sciences) for Windows 14.0 program was used for statistical analysis. In the descriptive statistics; percantage, number and mean ± standart deviation values were calculated, in the comparison between groups; chi-square test and fisher?s exact test were used. Type 1 error level was accepted as ? 0.05.Results: We determined viral causes in 54% of 200 patients (108). The most of common cause was influenza virus 32% (64 cases), and followed by RSV 11% (22 cases) and adenovirus 11% (22 cases). More than one causes were determined in 3% of cases (6 cases). 43% of the patients were girl (86 cases) and 57% of patients were boy (114 cases). 39.5% of patients (79 cases) were aged between 0-2 and 60.5 of patients (121 cases) were aged elder than 2 years old.The result of RSV test was statically significant in 0-2 years group. History of similar disease at home was statically significant in influenza positive patients (p<0.001). 11.5% of cases have never been used antibiotic agents for a year. 56.5% of patients used 4 and less, and 32% of patients used 5 and more antibiotics during a year. Analyzing the positivity of viruses according to months was resulted as follow; in March RSV, in September and February influenza and in June adenovirus had it?s peak level.RSV positivity was found in the relation of rales, wheezing, retractions and infiltrations and was statically significant. Influenza positive cases were in relation with sore throat, coughing, muscle pains and stomach pain symptoms. Adenovirus was in relation with acute otitis media(p<0.05).In conclusion: Influenza virus constituted 32% of patients and followed by RSV(11%) and adenovirus(11%) in the patients who admitted with upper and lower respiratory system infections. This study emphasizes that, testing of nasopharyngeal smear samples with fast antigen testing method will prevent unnecessary antibiotic using.Key words: Influenza virus, Adenovirus, RSV, rapid test