They discovered a disease causing pneumonia in children in Córdoba: What is Bocavirus?

researcher’s National University of Cordoba (UNC) An infectious agent called “Bocavirus 1”It causes respiratory illness in boys and girls under 5 years old, especially in infants, and can lead to pneumonia and other long-term complications, according to the website. united nations scientific of the academic institution.

The survey was conducted by Institute of Virology, Jose Vanela and chairman Medical School Pediatric Clinic from the Institute of Advanced Research, who conducted a study on samples collected from the intensive care unit of the Trinidad Children’s Hospital in Sant’Sima, which relies on the province and is located in city ​​of cordoba

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The report details that bacteria “Oral Virus 1” It was first discovered in 2005, and despite being discovered nearly 20 years ago, many aspects remain in question.

he Boca virus It affects the respiratory system and usually does not cause gastrointestinal symptoms. It is also suspected that it may worsen asthma or wheezing.

The study, using molecular testing technology (PCR), found that the condition was more common in pediatric patients with acute respiratory infections.

He also warned, Boca virus type 1 It can cause severe respiratory infections and has been diagnosed in 28% of cases in patients under 2 years old admitted to the intensive care unit at Trinity Children’s Hospital.

researcher Laura Beatrice Moreno, chairman holder pediatric clinic of University of North Carolina School of Medicineinsists that this pathology “is important because it causes severe symptoms of viral pneumonia.”

he Boca virus type 1 It is part of the parvovirus family and can infect animals, hence its names: bo (cow) and ca (canine).

Maria Pilar Adamoresearcher at the institute Virology José Vanella from the University of North Carolinasaid: “This is not a newly emerged virus. It is new because we only discovered it recently, but it is already here.”

Boca virus symptoms

The purpose of this case is to further the study of the effects of respiratory infections and their symptoms in boys and girls.

In Argentina, both pneumonia and bronchiolitis are two mandatory reportable events. Health workers (public and private) must declare cases to the national ministry of health to develop surveillance strategies, they added in the report.

The study included a sample 141 patients under 2 years old Admitted to the intensive care unit of Children’s Hospital due to respiratory infection. The analysis period is from April 2021 to the same month in 2022, and the average age of the affected population is 5 months.

As a result, at least one virus was detected in 80% of cases.he syncytial virus Respiratory diseases were found in 71.6%, while Boca virus type 1 was found to be 28%. Five patients were infected with baculovirus type 1 only.

The team confirmed that the virus behaves very similarly to syncytial viruses. It affects the respiratory system and usually does not cause gastrointestinal symptoms. It is also suspected that it may worsen asthma or wheezing.

Finally, the report broadly concludes that more research is needed to better understand how respiratory viruses behave.

Falling temperatures and people spending long periods in closed environments can lead to an increase in cases. In winter, the demand for intensive treatment for children under 5 years old increases by approximately 40%.

“We are conducting studies using donor sera to determine whether antibodies present in the blood can be used to detect viral antigens in respiratory samples.” Adamo said.