Resumen

To the Editors: Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) are common respiratory tract pathogens that can infect persons of any age. They are enveloped, negative-sense RNA viruses that belong to the subfamily Paramyxovirinae of the family Paramyxoviridae. There are four genetically and antigenically different types, HPIV types 1 to 4 (HPIV-1 to -4). Although HPIV-4 has been regarded as less clinically important and associated with milder respiratory illness, serological studies have shown that it may account for as much as 3% of all respiratory tract infections and demonstrated 50% to 90% seroprevalence in children and young adults. As it is recovered less often in cell culture and reported in association with mild respiratory disease, HPIV-4 is not included in the routine panels of respiratory virus antigen detection on nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) and other respiratory specimens collected in most clinical virology laboratories. For this reason HPIV4 might be detected less often and this could lead to an underestimation of its clinical significance. We report a previously healthy child with HPIV 4 infection presenting with pericardial effusion.

Palabras clave: Parainfluenza virus 4 pleural effusion; children.

2014-09-01   |   392 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 8 Núm.8. Agosto 2014 Pags. 1079-1080 J Infect Developing Countries 2014; 8(8)