Contribution of influenza viruses, human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus to acute respiratory infections in children in northern Greece, 2008 – 2010

Influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) are the most common pathogens that cause acute respiratory disease in children. The aim of this study is to present the contribution of the above three pathogens to influenza-like illness (ILI) in children (aged <6 years old) during 2-year (2008-2010) influenza seasons in N. Greece. 430 pharyngeal swabs from children younger than 6 years, presented as ILI infections during the last two influenza seasons (2008-2009 and 2009-2010) were examined for influenza A and B, RSV and hMPV, by one step Real-time RT-PCR. Influenza viruses were detected in 122 (28.3%) of the 430 spesimens, RSV in 45 (10.4%) samples and hMPV in 28 (6.5%). RSV and influenza viruses' co-infections were observed in eight cases, RSV and hMPV co-infections in four cases and hMPV with influenza viruses was found in one case. The majority of the patients (67.7%) were between 3 and 6 years old. Our results demonstrate that influenza viruses, RSV and hMPV contribute to ILI presenting infections at a rate of 45.2% in children younger than 6 years old.