Prognosis is good and complete recovery is usual. However, rare complications of Q Fever may give rise to infective endocarditis requiring long term treatment. Parainfluenza Edwin O'Kelly Parainfluenza is an important childhood pathogen of the respiratory tract causing upper and lower respiratory disease in infants and young children. Unlike respiratory syncytial virus which is a winter pathogen, parainfluenza can occur at anytime througout the year. The illness is characterised by the abrupt onset of rhinorrhea, sore throat, irritability, anorexia and fatigue.
High fever is also characteristic of infection in young children.
The disease however is self limiting and usually resolves within 5 to 6 days. Laboratory diagnosis of parainfluenza involves the isolation of the virus in cell cultures from respiratory tract secrections, identification of viral antigen by immunofluorescence or enzyme immunoassay techniques or the use of serological techniques. Symptoms included bronchiolitis, wheeze and pyrexia. Most of the cases have been referred from Dublin hospitals. This will summarise the significant results obtained in the laboratory over the previous week.