Biomaterial Database

Respiratory syncytial virus or influenza? 1993

D M Fleming, and K W Cross

Birmingham Research Unit/RCGP, UK.

We compared data from clinical surveillance of acute respiratory infections in elderly people reported by a network of sentinel general practitioners, virus isolate data for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A and B viruses, and registered deaths, during the past four winters. Cases of acute respiratory disease (ARD) and deaths (3-week moving averages) showed strong similarity in timing. Periods of high incidence of ARD and numbers of deaths were followed within 2-3 weeks by reports of high numbers of RSV or influenza virus isolates. The epidemic period in December, 1989, was followed by high numbers of both virus isolates, but in all other epidemic periods one virus predominated. The lethality of epidemics due to RSV or influenza A or B varied both within and between years. These analyses suggest that RSV is as important as influenza viruses in causing morbidity and excess deaths among elderly people. RSV was prevalent at the end of each of the past four years in the UK; its importance as a cause of excess deaths would therefore be concealed in any analysis based on several years' experience. By contrast, the inconsistency of epidemics due to influenza viruses makes excess deaths due to these viruses easily recognisable. Integrated clinical and viriological surveillance is essential if epidemics due to RSV, influenza virus, or any other virus are to be correctly interpreted.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D007251	Influenza, Human	An acute viral infection in humans involving the respiratory tract. It is marked by inflammation of the NASAL MUCOSA; the PHARYNX; and conjunctiva, and by headache and severe, often generalized, myalgia.	Grippe,Human Flu,Human Influenza,Influenza in Humans,Influenza,Flu, Human,Human Influenzas,Influenza in Human,Influenzas,Influenzas, Human
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009980	Influenza A virus	The type species of the genus ALPHAINFLUENZAVIRUS that causes influenza and other diseases in humans and animals. Antigenic variation occurs frequently between strains, allowing classification into subtypes and variants. Transmission is usually by aerosol (human and most non-aquatic hosts) or waterborne (ducks). Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces.	Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae,Avian Orthomyxovirus Type A,FLUAV,Fowl Plague Virus,Human Influenza A Virus,Influenza Virus Type A,Influenza Viruses Type A,Myxovirus influenzae-A hominis,Myxovirus influenzae-A suis,Myxovirus pestis galli,Orthomyxovirus Type A,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Avian,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Human,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Porcine,Pestis galli Myxovirus,Fowl Plague Viruses,Influenza A viruses,Myxovirus influenzae A hominis,Myxovirus influenzae A suis,Myxovirus, Pestis galli,Myxoviruses, Pestis galli,Pestis galli Myxoviruses,Plague Virus, Fowl,Virus, Fowl Plague
D009981	Influenza B virus	Species of the genus BETAINFLUENZAVIRUS that cause HUMAN INFLUENZA and other diseases primarily in humans. Antigenic variation is less extensive than in type A viruses (INFLUENZA A VIRUS) and consequently there is no basis for distinct subtypes or variants. Epidemics are less likely than with INFLUENZA A VIRUS and there have been no pandemics. Previously only found in humans, Influenza B virus has been isolated from seals which may constitute the animal reservoir from which humans are exposed.	Betainfluenzavirus influenzae,FLUBV,Human Influenza B Virus,Influenza Viruses Type B,Influenza virus type B,Orthomyxoviruses Type B,Influenza B viruses
D011159	Population Surveillance	Ongoing scrutiny of a population (general population, study population, target population, etc.), generally using methods distinguished by their practicability, uniformity, and frequently their rapidity, rather than by complete accuracy.	Surveillance, Population
D012141	Respiratory Tract Infections	Invasion of the host RESPIRATORY SYSTEM by microorganisms, usually leading to pathological processes or diseases.	Respiratory System Infections,Upper Respiratory Tract Infection,Upper Respiratory Tract Infections,Infections, Respiratory,Infections, Respiratory Tract,Infections, Upper Respiratory,Infections, Upper Respiratory Tract,Respiratory Infections,Upper Respiratory Infections,Infection, Respiratory System,Infection, Respiratory Tract,Respiratory Infection, Upper,Respiratory System Infection,Respiratory Tract Infection
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children