Abstract

IRAMAIN, Ricardo et al. Upper- and Lower-Respiratory Tract Infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis in Newborns and Infants: Risks and results. Pediatr. (Asunción) [online]. 2011, vol.38, n.3, pp.185-190. ISSN 1683-9803.

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is a bacteria that causes infections associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations affecting the upper and lower respiratory tract in infants and can result in a mild to severe clinical picture including nasal congestion, rhinitis, pneumonia, and apnea. Objective: To determine the clinical characteristics of the disease and report the results of studies in newborns and infants with upper- or lower-respiratory tract infections. Methods: From 1997 to 2010 newborns and infants with feeding difficulty and respiratory distress were examined in three institutions and assessed using direct immunofluorescence of nasopharyngeal samples to detect direct fluorescent antibodies to C. trachomatis Patients testing positive were treated and monitored in checkups until 1 year of age. Results: Fifty-one patients were positive for CT. Average maternal age was 28±4 and gestational age was 38±1 weeks (pre-term defined as 34-36 weeks gestational age). Mean age for appearance of symptoms was 16.6 ± 14.2 weeks with a range of 1-62 days.  Rhinitis was present in 56.9% and apnea in 7.8%. The initial complaint was bronchial obstruction syndrome (BOS) in 11.8%, bronchiolitis in 9.8%, and transitory tachypnea in 2%. Hospitalization was necessary in 45.1% and ICU care in 23.5%. Recurrent BOS was seen in 47.1% at 1 year of age. Conclusion: Morbidity was significant in infants with C. trachomatis including severe rhinitis in newborns and episodes of BOS resulting in high rates of admission to hospitals and ICUs.

Keywords : Chlamydia trachomatis; upper-respiratory infection; lower-respiratory Infection; newborns; Infants.

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