[The occurrence of viral respiratory tract infections in small children in the season 1993-1994 (with reference to the role of breast feeding)].

In the period October 1993 to June 1994, 231 hospitalized children under 2 years of age were examined by immunofluorescence for respiratory viruses. In 114 (49.9%) cases viral etiology was established. The data were compared with results obtained from the season 1992-93. RS virus was predominant as in the previous season but infections of parainfluenzae type 3 virus were rather rare (p < 0.005). Mixed and adenovirus (p < 0.02%) infections were more frequent than in the past season. A breast-fed children were statistical more rarely infected by respiratory viruses (p < 0.05), (RS virus-p < 0.1), than artificial-fed ones.