Viruses Associated with Acute Respiratory Infections

Abstract

Since the discovery of the rhinoviruses and respiratory syncytial virus only a few surveys have been made on the incidence of infections by the different respiratory viruses in the general population and the frequency with which they cause respiratory disease (Hilleman et al., 1962 ; Conference on Newer Respiratory Disease Viruses, 1963 ; Higgins et al., 1963). The present report describes the experience of the Public Health Laboratory, Bristol, in the isolation of viruses during a period of 17 months from (a) patients admitted to hospital with severe respiratory infections, (b) patients with respiratory infections who were seen by general practitioners, and (c) volun teers with very mild respiratory infections. The clinical features of some typical cases are described. Between 1 December 1961 and 30 April 1963 swabs were received from 521 patients with acute respiratory infections. Of these patients, 187 have been excluded from the following analysis?116 because their swabs were not inoculated on the day they were taken (see below), 42 because their swabs were tested in only one type of tissue culture, 24 because nose swabs and not throat swabs were taken, and 5 because they were swabbed more than 21 days after the onset of the illness. From the remaining 334 patients nose and throat swabs were taken from 164 and throat swabs alone from 170.