Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infection

  • Original Article
  • Published:
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective : To identify pathogens responsible for acute severe lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in under five children by non-invasive methods.Method : 95 children hospitalized with acute severe lower respiratory tract infection were investigated for identification of viruses, bacteria, chlamydia or mycoplasma by nasopharyngeal aspirates, blood culture and serology.Result : Etiological agents could be identified in 94% of the patients. Viruses from NP aspirate could be isolated in 36 (38%), bacterial isolates from blood cultures in 15(16%); mycoplasma was identified in 23(24%) and chlamydia in 10(11%) by serological tests; mixed infections were present in 8 (8%) patients.Conclusion : Noninvasive methods can be useful in identifying etiological agents in severe ALRTI

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kabra SK, Verma IC. Acute respiratory tract infection a forgotten entity.Indian J Pediatr 1999; 66: 873–875.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mac Cracken Jr GH. Diagnosis and management of pneumonia in children.Pediatr Infect Dis J 2000; 19:924–928.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Berman S. Epidemiology of acute respiratory tract infection in children of developing countries.Rev Infect Dis 1990; 13 (Suppl) 60: S 454–467.

    Google Scholar 

  4. The WHO Young Infant Study Group. Bacterial etiology of serious infections in young infants in developing countries: results of multicentre study.Pediatr Infect Dis J 1999; 18 (suppl): S17-S22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Maitreyi RS, Broor S, Kabra SK, Ghosh M, Seth P, Dar L, Prasad AK. Rapid detection of respiratory viruses by centrifugation enhanced cultures from children with acute lower respiratory tract infections.J Clin Virology 2000; 16:41–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. John TJ, Cherian T, Steinhoff MC, Siemoes EAF, John M. Etiology of acute respiratory tract infection in children in tropical southern India.Rev Infect Dis 1990; 13 (suppl 6): S 463–469.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Pandey A, Choudhary R, Nisar N, Kabra SK. Acute respiratory tract infections in Indian children with special reference to Mycoplasma pneumoniae.J Tropical Pediatr 2000; 46:371–374.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Chaudhary R, Nazima N, Dhawan B, Kabra SK. Prevalence of Mycoplasma preumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae in children with community acquired pneumonia.Indian J Pediatr 1998; 65: 717–721.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Normann E, Gnarpe J, Gnarpe H, Wettergren B. Chlamydia pneumoniae in children with acute respiratory tract infection.Acta Pediatrica Scand 1998; 87:23–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Flack G, Gnarpe J, Gnarpe H. Prevalence of chlamydia pneumoniae in healthy and in children with respiratory tract infections,Pediatr Infect Dis J 1997; 16:549–554.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Technical bases of WHO recommendation on the management of pneumonia in children at first level health facility. WHO/ ARI/91.20, Geneva, World Health Organization, 1991.

  12. Jacobs RF. Judicious use of antibiotics for common pediatric respiratory infections.Pediatr Infect Dis J 2000; 19:938–943.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ngeow YF, Weil AF, Khairullah NS, Yusof MY, Luam L, Gaydos C, Quinn TC.Young Malaysian children with lower respiratory tract infections show low incidence of chlamydial infection.J Paediatr Child Health 1997; 33:422–425.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Forgie IM, O’Neill KP, Lloyd-Evans N, Leinonen M, Campbell H, Whittle HCet al. Etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infections in Gambian children: II. Acute lower respiratory tract infection in children ages one to nine years presenting at the hospital.Pediatr Infect Dis J 1991; 10:42–47.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wubbel L, Muniz L, Ahmed A, Trujillo M, Carubelli Cet al. Etiology and treatment of community acquired pneumonia in ambulatory children.Pediatr Infect Dis J 1999; 18:94–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ishiwada N, Kurosaki T, Toba T, Niimi H. Etiology of pediatric inpatients with pneumonia.Kansenshogaku Zasshi 1993; 67: 642–647.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Gendrel D, Raymond J, Moulin F, Iniguez JL, Ravilly S, Habib Fet al. Etiology and response to antibiotic therapy of community-acquired pneumonia in French children.Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1997; 16:388–391.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Heiskanen-Kosma T, Korppi M, Jokinen C, Kurki S, Heiskanen L, Juvonen Het al. Etiology of childhood pneumonia: serologic results of a prospective, population-based study.Pediatr Infect Dis 1998; 17:986–991

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    S. Broor, R. Chaudhary & R. S. Maitreyi

  2. Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 110029, New Delhi, India

    S. K. Kabra (Additional Professor), Rakesh Lodha, S. Broor, R. Chaudhary, M. Ghosh & R. S. Maitreyi

Authors
  1. S. K. Kabra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rakesh Lodha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Broor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Chaudhary
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Ghosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. S. Maitreyi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. K. Kabra.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kabra, S.K., Lodha, R., Broor, S. et al. Etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infection. Indian J Pediatr 70, 33–36 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02722742

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02722742

Key words

Search

Navigation