Hong Kong Med J 2013;19(Suppl 4):S11-4
Respiratory viruses and atypical bacteria triggering severe asthma exacerbation in children
TF Leung, PKS Chan, GWK Wong, TF Fok, PC Ng
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong
 
 
1. Respiratory viruses and atypical bacteria were detected in 51.0% of Hong Kong children with asthma exacerbations, which was significantly higher than the detection rate of 27.3% in children with chronic stable asthma.
2. Co-infections of two or more respiratory pathogens were more commonly found in children with asthma exacerbations (10.7%) than in patients with stable asthma (2.6%).
3. Human rhinovirus infection was a significant risk factor for asthma exacerbations.
4. There was no significant association between the severity of asthma exacerbations and respiratory viral or atypical bacterial infections.
5. Routine use of macrolide antibiotics in the treatment of childhood asthma exacerbations should be discouraged.