Determining the prevalence of viral infections using molecular techniques in children with asthma crisis

Abstract

Introduction: respiratory viruses are the main cause of asthma crisis, both in children and adults. Our goal was to determine the prevalence of viral infections using molecular techniques in children aged 2-15 years with asthma crisis. Methodology: cross-sectional analytical trial including an analysis of demographic, clinical, and molecular tests data (polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcription PCR), used for the detection of the viral DNA and RNA, respectively. T, Chi-square and Fisher tests were used for group comparisons, with and without viruses. Results: the prevalence of the virus in the population studied (n=175) was: 83.4%. Rhinovirus; 71.4% (Subtype C: 47.4%, A: 20.6% and B: 3.4%); Influenza A: 27.4%, RSV: 8%, Parainfluenza (P) P1: 5.7%, P2: 0% and P3: 1.7%, Enterovirus: 1.7%. Adenovirus: 1.7%. There were no differences among the groups in terms of the following variables: gender, body mass index, and severity of the crisis, suggesting that these variables are not related to increased severity of the symptoms and the need for hospital admission. Due to the small number of Adenovirus and Enterovirus-68 detected, it was impossible to conclude any associations of these agents with severe exacerbations described in the literature. Conclusions: the virus detection was frequent in children 2 -15 years old with asthma crisis in our environment, and similar to the detection rates described in the literature. The prevalence of the virus in general and of Rhinovirus in particular, was similar to that described in the literature.