Incidence of Picornaviruses among Children with Respiratory Tract Infections Attending Ain Shams Pediatric University Hospital

Abstract

Picorna viruses are small non enveloped viruses with a single – stranded RNA genome of positive polarity. Picorna viruses are common human and animal pathogens, including polio and rhino viruses of entero virus family, and hepatitis A or food- and- mouth disease viruses. Acuter respiratory tract infections (ARTIS) constitute the most frequent Illnesses of humans. Most of these infections produce mild self- limited symptoms that are restricted to the upper respiratory tract. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of picorna viruses (Entero and Rhino viruses) in children admitted at Ain Shams pediatrics university Hospital with respiratory tract infections. Nasopharengeal specimens and stool samples collected from all the patients and picorna viruses (Entero and Rhino viruses (Entero and Rhino viruses) detected by: 1- Pan Picorna viruses real time rt- PCr. 2- Isolation in tissue culture plates and virus growth monitored with reference to cytopathic effects (CPES) for up to 2 weeks.