Viral respiratory infections and their role as public health problem in tropical countries (review).

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Data from the World Health Organization indicate that there are at least 2.2 million deaths from ARI throughout the world each year. A considerable number of study have been performed in different countries to assess the etiological role of viruses in ARI and is now clear that the majority of infections of the respiratory tract are caused by viruses. In tropical countries information on the viral etiological agents of ARI is rather scanty. Nevertheless data from Papua New Guinea, Polynesia, India, Pakistan and Singapor show that influenza occurs frequently in tropical countries. The other respiratory viruses especially respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza viruses and adenoviruses also play significant role as etiological agents in many tropical countries as Panama, Jamaica, Brazil, Colombia, Trinidad, Uganda, India and Nigeria. The data concerning seasonal prevalence of viral ARI in tropics are contradictory.