The role of pneumococcal infection in development of exacerbations in children with bronchial asthma and obstructive bronchitis

• Main Authors: N.V. Kukhtinova, S.M. Gavalov, S.A. Krotov, V.A. Krotova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: "Paediatrician" Publishers LLC 2011-01-01
• Series: Voprosy Sovremennoj Pediatrii
• Online Access: http://vsp.spr-journal.ru:80/jour/article/view/563

<p><em>Pneumococcal infection remains the key cause of severe diseases of lower airways and deaths in children. The objective: to study the role of pneumococcal infection in pathogenesis of exacerbations of recurrent obstructive pulmonary diseases. Methods: etiological structure of lower airways infections was evaluated in 125 patients 1–15 years old with bronchial asthma or recurrent bronchitis. Results: etiologic role of Streptococcus pneumoniae in development of low airways infections was detected in 48% of patients with atopic asthma, 85% — with asthma without atopy, 97% — with recurrent bronchitis. Repeated microbiological examination confirmed chronic carriage of S. рneumoniae in nasopharinx in 31% of patients. Conclusion: early active prophylaxis with vaccine against pneumococcal infection including conjugated vaccines is able to prevent further progression of a disease.</em></p><p><br /><strong><em>Key words: children, bronchial asthma, obstructive bronchitis, exacerbation, pneumococcal infection.</em></strong></p>