Resumen

BANCALARI M., Aldo et al. Etiología viral en la infección respiratoria aguda baja en recién nacidos. Rev. chil. pediatr. [online]. 1999, vol.70, n.3, pp.201-207. ISSN 0370-4106.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0370-41061999000300005.

Viral aetiology of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in newborns To determine the aetiology of LRTIs in newborns admitted to the neonatal unit, including their epidemiological and clinical characteristics, treatment and evolution. A prospective study of 260 newborns admitted for acute LRTI was carried out between august 1995 and september 1998. In 150 cases (57.7%). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was detected using immunoflorescence and in 2 there was co-infection with parainfluenza virus. Adenovirus and influenza A and B were not found. The newborns were of normal gestation without predominance of either sex. The average age was 19.3 days and predominate symptoms were cough (84.6%), respiratory difficulty (66.7%), coryza (64%), refusal of feed (58.8%). Treatment was with physiotherapy and bronchodilators. In 55.4% of newborns antibiotics were prescribed, being suspended in 66.7% of cases when a viral aetiology was confirmed. Clinical outcome was benign with an average hospital stay of 10. 8 days and a mortality of 0.67%. In conclusion newborns admitted with LRTI have a predominantly viral aetiology, a diagnosis of RSV being confirmed by immunoflorescence. Clinical outcome was satisfactory without the use of antibiotics in these cases. Furthermore there was a very low rate of intrahospital infection owing to the strict methods of aisolation, especially reinforced during winter and spring.

Palabras clave : newborns; lower respiratory tract infection; respiratory syncytial virus.