Simultaneous multiple viral infections in childhood acute lower respiratory tract infections in southern Taiwan.

Thirty paediatric patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) caused by simultaneous multiple viral infections (SMV) in a 3-year interval were reviewed. Twenty patients were infected with two viruses simultaneously; nine patients with three viruses; and one patient with four viruses. The frequency of individual viruses were: adenovirus, 18 (60 per cent); respiratory syncytial virus, 7 (23 per cent); influenza virus type A, 6 (20 per cent); influenza virus type B, 15 (50 per cent); parainfluenza virus type 1, 11 (37 per cent); parainfluenza virus type 3, 13 (43 per cent). There was no difference between the clinical presentations of ALRI with SMV and those of ALRI with a single virus. In conclusion, SMV was not uncommon in children with ALRI; the clinical presentations of multiple viral infection were similar to those of single viral infection.