Clinical Characteristics of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Full-Term Newborns without Risk Factors.
- Author:
Woo Sun SONG
1
;
Byung Jin SONG
;
Won Duck KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Full term newborn; Acute lower respiratory tract infection; Multiplex RT-PCR; RSV
- MeSH: Bronchiolitis; Bronchitis; Coronavirus; Croup; Diagnosis; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn*; Mortality; Paramyxoviridae Infections; Pneumonia; Respiratory Rate; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses; Respiratory Tract Infections*; Rhinovirus; Risk Factors*; Vaccination
- From:Neonatal Medicine 2015;22(1):27-33
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: PURPOSE: This study evaluated the characteristics and symptoms of full-term newborns without risk factors who were diagnosed with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI). METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from 72 full-term newborns to 30 days of age who were diagnosed with ALRI from September 2011 to November 2013 and analyzed by multiplex real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Viruses were detected in 60 newborns (83.3%). Single viruses were observed in 56 newborns (77.7%). The most commonly detected viral agent was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (63.8%), followed by parainfluenza virus (6.9%), rhinovirus A/B (4.1%), and human coronavirus (2.7%). Clinical diagnoses of ALRI in newborns with a single virus included pneumonia (66.07%), bronchiolitis (30.43%), bronchitis (5.35 %), and croup (1.79%). There were no differences in epidemiological characteristics between RSV and other viruses. However, newborns diagnosed with RSV had prolonged hospitalizations and significantly increased respiratory rates. CONCLUSION: Respiratory viruses, especially RSV, are pivotal causes of ALRI in newborns. Further, studies on RSV severity and vaccination are necessary to reduce hospitalization and mortality of full-term infants.
