Incidence and frequency of infections at specific ages in infancy and childhood; with special reference to upper respiratory infections in potentially rheumatic-susceptible children.

Abstract

THE INCIDENCE and relative frequency of upper respiratory infections at various ages in infancy and childhood have been incompletely documented. Reimann,1in a current review of infectious diseases, states that it has been estimated that six attacks of minor respiratory infections occur per person per year and that hemolytic streptococci are the cause in about 25% of cases of acute pharyngitis. In a recent symposium, studies dealing with families living in Cleveland are described by Rammelkampf.2He states, Children in this area have approximately 12 respiratory illnesses per year, the total number of bacterial illnesses being less than 2 per cent. In the same symposium, Rantz3summarizes his observations on ambulatory infants and children attending the Stanford University Hospital Clinic. He found that approximately 20% of all respiratory infections in children between the ages of 2 and 10 years were caused by Group A hemolytic streptococci and