Human Bocavirus in Greek Children With Respiratory Tract Infection

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Human bocavirus (family Parvoviridae) was recently identified in children with respiratory tract infection (RTI), first in Sweden, and subsequently in different parts of the world. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to gain insight into the epidemiology of bocavirus in children with RTI in Greece. METHODS: One hundred ten throat-swab samples were collected during the autumn and winter months of 2006–2007 from previously healthy children (aged 1 month to 13 years) who were hospitalized for RTI. DNA was extracted from the samples, and polymerase chain reaction was performed to amplify the NS1 gene of the bocavirus genome. Polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced and compared with respective bocavirus sequences. RESULTS: Bocavirus DNA was detected in 10 samples (9%). Comparison with previously identified bocavirus sequences showed a high degree of identity. Mean age of the children was 1.8 years (range: 2 months to 4 years). The most common symptoms were fever, cough, and various degrees of respiratory distress. A majority of the children (9 of 10) were clinically diagnosed as having lower RTI, mainly acute bronchiolitis and pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of human bocavirus infection in Greece, which suggests that the virus is spread worldwide, and it is associated with RTI in infants and young children.

Cellular Changes in Blood Indicate Severe Respiratory Disease during Influenza Infections in Mice

“…Clinical studies in Taiwan could associate low lymphocyte counts with respiratory failure [39]. In children, thrombocytosis occurs commonly in infections of the lower respiratory tract though an indicative correlation could not be identified [40]. In humans, the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes was also suggested as a diagnostic indicator for differentiating pH1N1 infections from other influenza-like illnesses [41].…”

Thrombocytosis in Under-Five Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

“…Subramaniam et al, indicated that respiratory infection was the predominant (28.3%) infectious cause of reactive thrombocytosis (5). Hadidopulou found reactive thrombocytosis in children with viral respiratory tract infection (6). However, Wolach et al, found thrombocytosis in children with pneumonia and empyema (7).…”

Trombocitosis extrema reactiva en un niño sano de 6 años

“…Siempre se debe confirmar con un nuevo hemograma, dado que existen situaciones que pueden hacer que el recuento plaquetario se vea falsamente aumentado (crioglobulinemia mixta o lisis celular) 1,4,5 . Siempre se debe confirmar con un nuevo hemograma, dado que existen situaciones que pueden hacer que el recuento plaquetario se vea falsamente aumentado (crioglobulinemia mixta o lisis celular) 1,4,5 .…”

“…En este aspecto, y ya desde el ingreso, una anamnesis dirigida (tabla 2), una adecuada interpretación de las pruebas complementarias (tabla 3) y una exhaustiva exploración física (descartando la presencia de visceromegalias o adenopatías) permiten orientar el diagnóstico 1,3,4 . En este aspecto, y ya desde el ingreso, una anamnesis dirigida (tabla 2), una adecuada interpretación de las pruebas complementarias (tabla 3) y una exhaustiva exploración física (descartando la presencia de visceromegalias o adenopatías) permiten orientar el diagnóstico 1,3,4 .…”

“…Atendiendo a las causas más prevalentes de trombocitosis en la infancia, se podrían considerar las siguientes pruebas: a) cultivo estéril de líquidos biológicos, serologías y técnicas de biología molecular para virus, bacterias y parásitos; b) descartar anemia de cualquier causa, alteraciones de la morfología de los hematíes y trastornos de la coagulación; c) considerar enfermedades autoinmunes; d) realizar pruebas de imagen dirigidas para descartar neoplasias, visceromegalias, adenopatías o enfermedad de Kawasaki (ecocardiograma), y e) evaluar la necesidad de la realización de aspirado y biopsia de la médula ósea [1][2][3][4]6 . Estarán indicadas aquellas pruebas complementarias que, con una adecuada relación beneficio-riesgo, aporten información útil.…”