Viral panel scanning via polymerase chain reaction in children for acute asthma exacerbation and post exacerbation nasopharyngeal load

OBJECTIVE: Asthma is the most frequent chronic disease of the childhood period which is seen in all countries regardless of their levels of development. Acute exacerbations are the most important factor that affects asthma morbidity and mortality. The respiratory tract viruses, particularly those consisting of rhinoviruses, have a role in 60% - 80% of the acute asthma exacerbations in the childhood period. In this study, the relationship between the viruses and acute asthma exacerbations were evaluated via performing viral respiratory panel on nasopharyngeal swab samples in asthmatic cases with acute exacerbations. MATERIAL-METHOD: Fifty pediatric patients between the ages of 2-18 were included in the study. Viral respiratory panel worked in nasopharyngeal swab samples were performed during the asthma exacerbations and 15-30 days after administrating the proper treatment in all patients. The relationship between the presence of atopy, exacerbations, living conditions, upper respiratory tract infection and the presence of exacerbations was investigated. The relationship between the viruses and presence of atopy, age of the cases and systemic steroid requirement in acute treatment was evaluated. RESULTS: Of 50 patients with asthma exacerbation, 42% were females and 58% were males. The mean age of the cases was 10.22 ± 3.82 (3-17) and the mean age of first exacerbation was 5.34 ± 3.17 (2-12). The exacerbations were occurred in winter season (44%) and following upper respiratory tract infections (80%). Viruses were identified in thirty (60%) children after asthma exacerbations and the most frequent isolated virus was rinovirus (73.3%). Viruses were determined in six (12%) children in control swabs. Rinovirus was detected in five and adenovirus was detected in one of these six children. No significant relationship was found between the isolated viruses and the age of patients, presence of atopy and the systemic steroid requirement in acute treatment. CONCLUSION: Acute asthma exacerbations were related to viral infections. The most commonly was rhinovirus. In addition, it is considered that rhinovirus stayed in the respiratory tract longer than other viruses. Key words: Asthma, acute asthma exacerbation, paediatrics, virus.