Resumen de Etiología de bronquiolitis en niños hospitalizados en el sureste de España

Carme Salvador García, Antonio Moreno Docón, J. Piñero Fernández, Santiago Alfayate Miguélez, María Asunción Iborra Bendicho

• Background: Bronchiolitis is the most common respiratory disease in children under 2 years-old and a major cause of hospitalization in young children, especially during the winter.

  Objectives: To determine the prevalence and etiology of bronchiolitis in south-east of Spain.

  Study design: A prospective study was conducted during the bronchiolitis season (DecemberApril). Children below 18 months-old admitted to the hospital for a ?rst bronchiolitis episode were included. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were analysed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respiratory syncytial virus.

  Results: A total of 235 children were included during this period, and 235 RT-PCR were performed. A total of 287 viruses were detected in nasopharyngeal aspirates from 204 infants.

  Respiratory syncytial virus was the virus detected more frequently, followed by rhinovirus.

  Co-infections were found in the 36% of children.

  Conclusions: Respiratory viruses were detected in most of the children below 18 months-old hospitalised with bronchiolitis, and 36% of them showed a mixed infection.