Clinical Characteristics of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Full-Term Newborns without Risk Factors.

Song,  Woo Sun; Song,  Byung Jin; Kim,  Won Duck

doi:2015.22.1.27

Neonatal Med > Volume 22(1); 2015 > Article

Original Article

Neonatal Medicine 2015;22(1):27-33.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5385/nm.2015.22.1.27 Published online February 28, 2015.

Clinical Characteristics of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Full-Term Newborns without Risk Factors.

Woo Sun Song, Byung Jin Song, Won Duck Kim

Department of Pediatrics, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea. 0101turtle@gmail.com

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.

Key Words: Full term newborn; Acute lower respiratory tract infection; Multiplex RT-PCR; RSV