Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis: comparative study of RSV groups A and B infected children.

The grouping characteristics of 29 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) present in nasopharyngeal cells collected from hospitalized children with bronchiolitis during the 1990 RSV season in Porto Alegre, RS, were analysed. Twenty-two were grouped as belonging to group A and 7 to group B. Cyanosis, oxygen therapy, cough, length of hospitalization and atelectasis were observed to be more frequently found within group B infected children. Other clinical signs and symptoms were similarly found in both groups.