DIAGNOSING RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS BY NASAL LAVAGE

Nasal lavage was compared with nasopharyngeal aspiration for diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus infection, Nasal lavage and nasopharyn geal aspiration were performed on 50 occasions in 32 infants (median a ge 5.6 months) acute viral wheezing, Compared nasopharyngeal aspiratio n, nasal lavage had a positive predictive value of 95.6% and negative predictive value of 92.5%. These comparable results and lack of advers e effects make nasal lavage the preferred method.