Etiologic, Clinical, and Pathologic Analysis of 31 Fatal Cases of Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Argentinian Children Under 5 Years of Age

Abstract

During a 3-year survey of 805 children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) who were admitted to three hospitals in Buenos Aires, 31 fatal cases were recorded-a fatality rate of 3.8070. Of the 31 children who died, 77% were Bordetella pertussis by IIF Pathogens were identified in 65070 of fatal cases. Seven cases were bacterial; seven cases were viral; and six cases resulted from mixed infections. Lung tissue yielded positive etiologic results in 10 of 13 cases. Histopathologic examination performed on specimens from the 14 autopsied children revealed necrotizing bronchiolitis with intranuclear inclusions (n = 5) and multifocal pneumonia (n = 9).