Unit:
Τομέας Υγείας - Μητέρας - ΠαιδιούLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Dissertation committee:
Ανδρέας Φρετζάγιας, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής Παιδιατρικής, Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών, ΕΚΠΑ
Παπαευαγγέλου Βασιλική, Καθηγήτρια Παιδιατρικής, Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών, ΕΚΠΑ
Πρίφτης Κωνσταντίνος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής Παιδιατρικής, Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών, ΕΚΠΑ
Τσιόδρας Σωτήριος , Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής Παθολογίας-Λοιμωξιολογίας, Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών, ΕΚΠΑ
Παπαδημητρίου Αναστάσιος, Καθηγητής Παιδιατρικής, Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών, ΕΚΠΑ
Ντινόπουλος Αργύριος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής Παιδιατρικής, Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών, ΕΚΠΑ
Αττιλάκος Αχιλλέας, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής Παιδιατρικής, Ιατρική Σχολή Αθηνών, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Επίπτωση ιογενών λοιμώξεων του αναπνευστικού συστήματος σε παιδιά προσχολικής ηλικίας και συσχέτιση της με παθητικό κάπνισμα και ατμοσφαιρική ρύπανση
Translated title:
Impact of viral infections of the respiratory tract system in preschool-aged children and it's correlation with passive smoking and air pollution
Summary:
Background: The majority of preschool children attend day care centers and in this
group a high rate of viral infections is being recorded, due to intermingling with other
children and non-observance of basic hygiene rules. Several studies record the effect
of environmental factors on the development of wheezing in early childhood.
Aim: To examine the possible detection of respiratory viruses among asymptomatic
children attending day care centers and to assess the impact of environmental
factors (climate, air pollution, passive exposure to tobacco smoke) in the
development of wheezing.
Methods: The study population consists of 233 preschool children: 120 living in a
rural area with low air pollution (area of Viotia) and 113 in a residential area (Haidari).
Nasopharyngeal samples were collected in four consecutive periods during the
winter season. These samples were examined by RT-PCR for Adenovirus (ADV),
Boca virus (hBoV), Coronavirus, Enteroviruses, Influenza viruses (A, B, C),
Metapneumovirus virus, Parainfluenza viruses (1, 2, 3, 4), Rhinovirus (HRV) and
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV A, B). Children in the study were free of persistent
symptoms. The cotinine levels were measured and the average value was regarded
as a reliable indicator of exposure to passive smoking. Data on external atmospheric
conditions were collected from local environmental stations in the two areas.
Results: HBoV was the most prevalent virus in both groups, alone or in combination
with other viruses (especially respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus and adenovirus).
The presence of wheezing was associated with cotinine levels (p = 0.032) and the
urban area of residence (p = 0.023). The sensitization to aeroallergens, parental
education and isolation of viruses in asymptomatic children were not associated with
the presence of wheezing. RSV was a predictor for the presence of influenza virus,
and similarly, the influenza virus can predict the presence of RSV. Also, HRV was a
predictor of the presence of ADV, and similarly, the ADV for the presence of HRV.
Conclusion: Preschool children who live in urban areas and whose parents are
smokers, are more prone to develop wheezing, compared to those living in rural
areas not exposed to passive smoking. The hBoV was the most frequently isolated
virus in both groups. Our results show that some viruses facilitate the colonization of
the nasopharynx to other viruses. The pathophysiological role of these interactions is
not clear as yet.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Viral infections, Respiratory tract, Air pollution, Passive smoking, Preschool-aged children
Number of references:
400
File:
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KOTZIA DOXA PhD.pdf
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