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| Definition: | A group of viruses belonging to the Parainfluenza virus that cause upper and lower respiratory infections.
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| Causes, incidence, and risk factors: | There are four serotypes of Parainfluenza virus, all of which are associated with causing disease. Parainfluenza can cause upper respiratory infections and lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia) in both adults and children. The virus is especially important in children because it is responsible for approximately 40 percent to 50 percent of all cases of croup and 10 percent to 15 percent of bronchiolitis and bronchitis and some pneumonias. The incidence of parainfluenza is unknown but suspected to be very high. Illness causing only a runny nose and cold-like symptoms may pass as a simple cold rather than parainfluenza. Risk factors include young age. By school age most children have been exposed to parainfluenza virus. Most adults have antibodies against parainfluenza although they can get repeat infections.
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Review Date: 12/7/2001
Reviewed By: Camille Kotton, M.D., Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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