Epidemiology of Viral Pneumonia

Abstract

The burden of pneumonia, including that due to respiratory viruses, is markedly higher in the very young (<5 years) and older adults (≥50 years). Respiratory viruses substantially contribute to pneumonia in both adults and children, and when systematically tested for, are more commonly detected than bacteria in both adults and children. It is difficult to distinguish between viruses by clinical presentation, and the exact clinical implication of viral detections among patients with pneumonia depends on the pathogen detected; however, there is increasing evidence of their importance in pneumonia.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Pneumonia; Respiratory viruses.

Fig. 1

(A) Numbers (above the bars) and percentages of all adults in whom a specific pathogen was detected in the adult component of the EPIC study. The proportions of viral, viral-viral, bacterial-viral, bacterial, fungal or mycobacterial pathogens detected, and no pathogen detected are shown in the pie chart. (B) Numbers (above the bars) and percentages of all children in whom a specific pathogen was detected in the pediatric component of the EPIC study. (C) Proportions of pathogens detected, according to age group in the pediatric component of the EPIC study.

Fig. 1

(A) Numbers (above the bars) and percentages of all adults in whom a specific pathogen was detected in the adult component of the EPIC study. The proportions of viral, viral-viral, bacterial-viral, bacterial, fungal or mycobacterial pathogens detected, and no pathogen detected are shown in the pie chart. (B) Numbers (above the bars) and percentages of all children in whom a specific pathogen was detected in the pediatric component of the EPIC study. (C) Proportions of pathogens detected, according to age group in the pediatric component of the EPIC study.