Clinical diagnosis and laboratory study of acute respiratory diseases of viral origin in children

: The authors analyzed retrospectively a group of 477 children aged two months to 16 years (mean age 6 years and 5 months), hospitalized on account of acute respiratory disease and subjected to virological examination. The aetiology was revealed in 53% of the sick children. In the elucidation of the aetiology participated a number of respiratory viruses, in particular the respiratory syncytial virus. The clinical picture of the disease was very varied. It was confirmed that the clinical picture does not make it possible to express in a considerable proportion of patients suspicion of an actual infectious aetiology. A mixed aetiology of acute respiratory diseases and a varied clinical picture indicate the necessity of a rapid virological and bacteriological examination in hospital practice.