Medicus, Vol. 19 No. 1_Adolescencija_2, 2010.
Review article
Characteristics of Acute Respiratory Infections in Older Children and Adolescents
Ilija Kuzman
; Klinika za infektivne bolesti Dr. Fran Mihaljević
Abstract
Acute respiratory infections are the most common infections and the most frequent human diseases in general. Respiratory infections, and especially viral infections of the upper respiratory system, are several times more frequent in children than in adults. Due to a higher exposure at school and close contacts, older children and adolescents very often suffer from all types of respiratory infections, particularly viral infections, including influenza. Nasopharyngitis, due to various viral and bacterial pathogens, is the most common at school age. In this age group, pharyngeal streptococcal infections have been reported very frequently, and unlike streptococcal infections in early childhood and in the elderly, they are manifested as classical symptoms of streptococcal angina. Tonsillopharyngitis is caused more frequently by atypical bacteria (particularly Mycoplasma pneumoniae) in school children than in pre-school children and adults. On the other hand, infections due to respiratory syncytial virus, a causative agent of bronchiolitis, have not been reported in older children and adolescents. Bacterial complications of viral infections are also rare; otitis has been rarely reported, while sinusitis has been reported somewhat more often. As far as pneumonia is concerned, it should be emphasized that the ratio of atypical pathogens, with Mycoplasma pneumoniae as the most important, is much higher in older children and adolescents than in other age groups. Mycoplasma is the most common causative agent of pneumonias in the age group of 5 to 25 years, where it is responsible for 30-60% of all pneumonias. In epidemic years, this percentage is even higher. The incidence of pneumonia due to Chlamydophila pneumoniae is below average, and legionnaire’s disease, Q fever and psittacosis have been reported very rarely.
Keywords
acute respiratory infections; tonsillopharyngitis; pneumonia; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; adolescents
Hrčak ID:
60097
URI
Publication date:
15.6.2010.
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