Persistence of Viruses in Upper Respiratory Tract of Children with Asthma

Abstract

Objectives: Nasopharyngeal swabs of 50 asthmatic children in the symptom-free period were examined for the presence of adenoviruses, rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. A control group of 20 healthy individuals was included in this study.Methods: A polymerase chain reaction was used to detect adenovirus DNA and rhinovirus and coronavirus complementary DNA. The fragments of amplified genetic material were visualized with the use of agarose gel electrophoresis.Results: Adenovirus DNA was found in 78.4% of asthmatic children, rhinovirus RNA in 32.4% and coronavirus RNA in 2.7%. Adenovirus DNA was detected in one of the 20 nasopharyngeal swabs of healthy controls; the rest of the control samples were negative.Conclusions: The persistent presence of viruses in the upper respiratory tract of asthmatic children shows a possible connection between viral infections and asthma.