VIRAL and Chlamydial Etiology of Acute Respiratory Infection in Infants in Addis Ababa
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1993-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A case - control study was calTied out to establish the etiologic agents causing
acute respiratory infections in infants in Addis Ababa using the immunofluorescence
technique. Special attention was given to viruses and Chlamydia trachomatis. The
influence of the level of education, passive smoking, breast feeding, and
meteorological factors in association with viral infection in acute respiratory infections
was investigated using the questionnaire data.
Nasopharyngeal aspirates of 225 cases and 178 control infants were studied for
the presence of respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, influenza virus types A
and B, adenovirus and Chlamydia trachomatis between January, 1992 and December,
1992. The overall viral and chlamydial detection rate was 48.9%. The total viral
detection rate was 32.9%, out of which respiratory syncytial virus accounted for 31.1 %.
Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in 16%. In control infants 2.8% of viral detection
was observed. Five control infants had detectable viral antigens but no control infants
had detectable Chlamydia trachoma tis antigens. Infants having acute respiratory infection
showed significantly higher rates of viral detection than healthy control infants
(Chi-Square Yates cOlTected = 52.64, p<O.OOI). Viral detection demonstrated higher
rates than that of Chlamydia trachomatis (Chi-Square with Yates corrected = 54,
p<O.OOl). Mixed infections of virus and Chlamydia trachoma tis was evident in
6.2%.
The rate of viral detection showed an inverse relationship with increasing age.
-viiiThose
infants aged up to 2 months demonstrated higher frequencies of viral detection
compared to the 3-12 months of age . Slightly higher frequencies of viral detection
were observed in females than in males, and males were more affected than females by
chlamydial infections. In acute upper respiratory infections a similar frequency of viral
detection rates were observed in comparison with that of the pnellIDonia cases .
Respiratory syncytial virus was the most prevalent etiologic agent detected, and
Chlamydia trachomatis was the second most important etiologic agent.
The socio-economic factors thought to contribute to viral infections have not been
established; however, meteorological factors tended to be associated with the prevalence
of viral infections.
This is an original study that establishes the importance of viral and chlamydial
etiology of acute respiratory infections in infants in Ethiopia.
Description
Keywords
VIRAL and Chlamydial, Etiology of Acute Respiratory Infection