Abstract
We studied the viral etiology of acute expiratory wheezing (bronchiolitis, acute asthma) in 293 hospitalized children in a 2-year prospective study in Finland. A potential causative viral agent was detected in 88% of the cases. Eleven different viruses were represented. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (27%), enteroviruses (25%), rhinovirus (24%), and nontypable rhino/enterovirus (16%) were found most frequently. In infants, RSV was found in 54% and respiratory picornaviruses (rhinovirus and enteroviruses) in 42% of the cases. In older children, respiratory picornaviruses dominated (65% of children ages 1-2 years and 82% of children ages > or =3 years). Human metapneumovirus was detected in 4% of all children and in 11% of infants. To prevent and treat acute expiratory wheezing illnesses in children, efforts should be focused on RSV, enterovirus, and rhinovirus infections.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Age Factors
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Antigens, Viral / isolation & purification
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Asthma / epidemiology
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Asthma / pathology
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Asthma / virology*
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Bronchiolitis / epidemiology
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Bronchiolitis / pathology
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Bronchiolitis / virology*
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Finland / epidemiology
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Humans
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Infant
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Picornaviridae / genetics
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Picornaviridae / isolation & purification*
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Picornaviridae Infections / complications*
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Picornaviridae Infections / epidemiology
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Picornaviridae Infections / virology
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Prospective Studies
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RNA, Viral / chemistry
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RNA, Viral / genetics
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Respiratory Sounds / etiology*
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / complications*
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / epidemiology
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / virology
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Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / genetics
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Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / isolation & purification*
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Seasons
Substances
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Antigens, Viral
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RNA, Viral