San Diego – Respiratory infections have their greatest impact in children and, in particular, in the first years of life. In 80% of cases, these infections are caused by viruses. Data from a research by the High Intensity Care Pediatrics Unit in the Policlinico of Milan, presented in San Diego at the congress ICAAC / ICC and recently published in the international journal PLoS One, show that in Italy, about 10% of cases of respiratory infections in children are caused by the human Bocavirus (HBoV). According to the research, other emerging viruses include the Enterovirus D68, which in 2014 caused a severe outbreak of respiratory infections in the United States, associated with neurological manifestations, killing four children. This is an infectious agent which, although relatively rare, caused in Europe severe respiratory infections, and at least two cases of meningoencephalitis, in addition to two deaths. Starting this year, in Italy will be available a quadrivalent vaccine, which protects from two type B viruses, in addition to the traditional type A influenza (H1N1 and H3N2). This will increase the effectiveness of vaccination against the flu, avoiding the spread of diseases not covered by the trivalent influenza vaccine. (9Colonne)
