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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz
ISSN: 1678-8060 EISSN: 1678-8060
Vol. 110, No. 7, 2015, pp. 884-889
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Bioline Code: oc15121
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Vol. 110, No. 7, 2015, pp. 884-889
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Viral aetiology of common colds of outpatient children at primary care level and the use of antibiotics
Kamikawa, Janete; Francisco Hernandes Granato, Celso & Bellei, Nancy
Abstract
Although antibiotics are ineffective against viral respiratory infections, studies have shown high rates of prescriptions
worldwide. We conducted a study in Brazil to determine the viral aetiologies of common colds in children and to
describe the use of antibiotics for these patients. Children up to 12 years with common colds were enrolled from March
2008-February 2009 at a primary care level facility and followed by regular telephone calls and medical consultations.
A nasopharyngeal wash was obtained at enrollment and studied by direct fluorescence assay and polymerase
chain reaction for nine different types of virus. A sample of 134 patients was obtained, median age 2.9 years (0.1-11.2 y).
Respiratory viruses were detected in 73.9% (99/134) with a coinfection rate of 30.3% (30/99). Rhinovirus was the most
frequent virus (53/134; 39.6%), followed by influenza (33/134; 24.6%) and respiratory syncytial virus (8/134; 13.4%). Antibiotic
prescription rate was 39.6% (53/134) and 69.8% (37/53) were considered inappropriate. Patients with influenza
infection received antibiotics inappropriately in a greater proportion of cases when compared to respiratory syncytial
virus and rhinovirus infections (p = 0.016). The rate of inappropriate use of antibiotics was very high and patients with
influenza virus infection were prescribed antibiotics inappropriately in a greater proportion of cases.
Keywords
common cold; influenza; respiratory syncytial virus; rhinovirus; antibiotics
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