Dominated respiratory infections which exacerbate asthma in asthmatic children

Abstract

Background: Microbes can influence development and trigger asthma attacks. Therefore, this study evaluated the more dominant microbial infections that trigger attacks in children. Methods: Forty-one nasopharyngeal and oro-pharyengeal swabs were obtained from the Pediatric Allergy Clinic of two educational hospitals and sent to a Molecular Laboratory to evaluate 21 bacterial and viral respiratory pathogens using the qPCR-TaqMan method. Results: The main bacterial infections were S. aureus (S. aur) 18/41 (43.9%), S. pneumoniae (S. pneu) 16/41 (39%), C. pneumoniae (C. pneu) 12 /41 (29.3%), and Haemophilus influenza Type B (HIB) 17/41 (41.5%) while the most viral infections were Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV) 3/41 (7.3%) and Influenza type B (Flu.B), HRV, Human Metapneumoviruses (HMPVA.B), Human Para-Influenza Viruses (HPIV)-2,3,4, Human Coronaviruses (HcoV)-63, and HcoV-229 in 2 cases (4,9%), in asthmatic children. Although bacterial infections were more common in both genders, the agents' frequency was statistically different between girls and boys (P=0.02). There was a positive correlation between S. pneu infection, asthma attack, and bronchitis (P= 0.02 and P= 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between AV and RSVA.B infections with allergic rhinitis (P= 0.02 and P= 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: In conclusion, bacterial respiratory infections, particularly, HIB, S. aur and S. pneu, were more common; however, HRSV and Flu. B has been a dominant viral infection in asthmatic attacks.