Viruses associated with acute respiratory infections 1961-71.

Influenza-like illness, cold and sore throat was the diagnosis given in over 80% of 5177 acute respiratory illnesses in patients swabbed over a 10-year-period. A pathogenic organism was isolated twice as frequently from patients with a sore throat or an influenza-like illness as from those diagnosed as suffering from croup or laryngitis and bronchitis. A laboratory diagnosis was commoner in school children than in older or younger persons.Most of the organisms isolated were found in association with all types of acute respiratory illness but, with increasing age of the patient, one particular agent or group of agents was more likely to be of aetiological significance.