Prevalence of respiratory virus in infants with acute bronchiolitis and recurrent wheezing in an emergency room in south Brazil <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of respiratory virus in hospitalized infants, comparing the first wheezing episode (acute bronchiolitis) with recurrent wheezing. Methods: Nasopharingeal samples were colected to search respiratory virus in infants with lower respiratory infections at emergency room from May to September, in 2000 and 2001. Results: A total of 124 patients were recruited. The number of positive samples to virus was 84 (67.7%). Respiratory sincycial virus (RSV) was the most common virus found (67.8%). Bronchiolitis was diagnosed in 77 infants (62%) and recurrent wheezing in 47 infants (37%). RSV was more frequent in subjects with acute bronchiolitis, and adenovirus in recurrent wheezers. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a high positive identification of virus in the samples studied. RSV was the most common virus detected. Our findings are similar to the previous literature from developing countries. KEY WORDS: BRONCHIOLITIS; RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS INFECTIONS; INFANT; RESPIRATORY SOUNDS.