Prospective surveillance for atypical pathogens in children with community-acquired pneumonia in Japan.

A total of 141 children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) were studied prospectively to determine the causative microorganisms. Microbial investigations included examination of postnasal swabs, cultures, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and serology. The atypical pathogens occurring most frequently were Mycoplasma pneumoniae (58 patients [41.

Mass vaccination of schoolchildren against influenza and its impact on the influenza-associated mortality rate among children in Japan.

Background: Influenza control based on mass vaccination of schoolchildren was implemented in Japan in the 1960s and was associated with a decrease in the overall mortality rate. The program was discontinued in 1994. The discontinuation was followed by a seasonal increase in the mortality rate.

[Evaluation of flow-through immunoassay for rapid detection of influenza A and B viruses].

We evaluated a flow-through immunoassay for rapid detection of influenza A and B viral antigens, RapidTesta FLU AB (Daiichi Pure Chemicals Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), by using 507 specimens collected from patients with influenza-like symptoms during the 2002/2003 influenza season in Japan.

[Evaluation of an immunochromatography test using enzyme immunoassay for rapid detection of influenza A and B viruses].

We evaluated the performance of an improved version of Espline Influenza A & B-N (Fujirebio Inc., Japan), an immunochromatography test using enzyme immunoassay for rapid diagnosis of influenza A and B. The test produced positive results for four strains of influenza viruses and thirty-one influenza viral antigens and negative results for all of thirty strains of other respiratory viruses that were tested.

[Effect of post-exposure prophylaxis with oseltamivir for those in contacts with influenza patients in pediatric wards].

During the influenza season, outbreaks of influenza may occur in the pediatric wards due to spread from the patients hospitalized with influenza, or from those hospitalized during the latency period and develop influenza afterwards. Post-exposure prophylaxis with neuraminidase inhibitors has been reported to be effective in preventing outbreaks among household members and nursing home residents. However, for nosocomial spread, its effectiveness and possible adverse effects are to be determined.

[Amantadine].

Amantadine is the first antiviral drug for human which was developed by duPont chemical company in 1964. Amantadine causes a selective, dose-related effectiveness of type A influenza virus and cost performance is very high. Amantadine should be given within 48 hours from onset of influenza.

[Study of a respiratory syncytial virus diagnostic test kit based on immunochromatography].

We carried out clinical and basic studies of the Directigen Lateral Flow RSV (Becton, Dickinson and Company, USA), a rapid test kit that detects respiratory syncytial virus (hereinafter referred to as "RSV") antigens based on immunochromatography. For the clinical study, 103 nasopharyngeal aspirates from patients with acute respiratory infections were used to evaluate the kit. Compared to the cell culture method, the Directigen Lateral Flow RSV showed a sensitivity of 100% (16/16) and a specificity of 94.

[Effectiveness of oseltamivir treatment against influenza type A and type B infection in children].

We investigated the effectiveness of oseltamivir treatment against influenza virus infection in children. We treated 131 patients (mean age, 5.8 +/- 3.

[Field trial of combined measles and rubella live attenuated vaccine].

We investigated the antibody responses and clinical adverse reactions after immunization with live combined measles and rubella vaccine (HF vaccine) in 442 healthy children, aged 12-90 months of age. We obtained 368 paired sera. Among them, 363 were initially sero-negative against measles virus and 343 (94.