Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pediatrics

Background: Asthma is a common, chronic respiratory disease affecting 1-18% of the population in different countries. Viral respiratory infections are the major cause of acute asthma exacerbations and contribute to asthma inception in high risk young children with susceptible genetic background. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human rhinovirus (HRV) are well recognized as the most important pathogens causing acute respiratory disease and asthma exacerbation in infants and young children. Other viruses that can cause acute asthma exacerbation are: Adenovirus, Influenza virus type A, Influenza virus type B, human Metapneumovirus, coronavirus, human parainfluenza virus, human bocavirus, enterovirus, chlamydophila pneumoniae, and mycoplasma pneumonia but these play a more minor role. Objectives: The present study was done to detect the viral causes of acute respiratory infections that precipitate asthma exacerbation and to correlate it with severity of asthma according to global Initiative for asthma guidelines (GINA). Subjects and methods: This is a cross sectional study which was conducted on 100 asthmatic patients following at allergy and pulmonology clinic in children hospital Cairo university aging 1 to 12 years and present in acute exacerbation. The study was carried out during the period from July 2015 to July 2016. They were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination especially chest examination, nasopharyngeal swab was taken from each patient to be tested by real time polymerase chain reaction RT PCR

Issued also as CD