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Parainfluenza

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
parainfluenza [¦par·ə‚in·flü′en·zə]
(medicine)
A viral condition similar to or resulting from influenza.
(microbiology)
An organism exhibiting growth characteristics ofHemophilus influenzae.

Parainfluenza 

(also paragrippe), an acute viral disease of the respiratory tract. The disease is transmitted from an infected person by airborne droplets resulting from coughing, sneezing, or talking. It is responsible for a substantial proportion of all viral infections of the respiratory tract.

Parainfluenza affects primarily children. It displays no seasonality. The incubation period is one to six days. The disease begins with rhinitis and a normal or slightly elevated bodily temperature. Inflammation of the larynx, manifested by a sore throat and dry cough, is typical. In some cases, especially in patients with chronic diseases, parainfluenza is complicated by bronchitis and pneumonia. It does not leave a stable immunity. Treatment is symptomatic. No specific preventive measures have been worked out, but the nonspecific preventive measures are the same as for influenza.



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Most of these infections are caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus A or B (FluV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), rhinovirus (RV), or adenovirus (AdV).
Human metapneumovirus is related to the respiratory syncytial virus, measles, mumps and parainfluenza viruses.
The usual culprit is the parainfluenza virus, and once a child has had croup they might well be more likely to develop it with any chest infection in the future.
 
 
 
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