PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Gheyath K. Nasrallah
AU  - Mamdoh M. Meqdam
AU  - Abdullah Al-Shurman
TI  - Prevalence of parainfluenza and influenza viruses amongst children with upper respiratory tract infection
DP  - 2000 Nov 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1024--1029
VI  - 21
IP  - 11
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/21/11/1024.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/21/11/1024.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2000 Nov 01; 21
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Parainfluenza and Influenza causing upper respiratory tract infections and to evaluate shell vial culture assay and direct immunofluorescence assay.METHODS: A retrospective study during the period between November 1997 and May 1998. A total of 350 nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from children suffering from respiratory tract infections. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were investigated for the presence of Parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3, Influenza A and B using shell vial culture assay, conventional culture assay and direct immunofluorescence assay.RESULTS: Parainfluenza 1 were identified in 3%, Parainfluenza 2 in 5% and Parainfluenza 3 in 6%. Influenza A were identified in 4% and Influenza B in 2%. Parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3 were isolated in children less than 5 years old. Most of Parainfluenza cases were associated with other upper respiratory infections. Shell vial assay showed a sensitivity of 90-93% and specificity of 99-100% for detecting Parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3.CONCLUSION: These results emphasize that shell vial assay is important for the diagnosis of Parainfluenza and Influenza, although direct immunofluorescence assay is the superior diagnositic assay.