BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuParainfluenzaHuman parainfluenza virus; HPIVs Parainfluenza refers to a group of viruses that lead to upper and lower respiratory infections. Causes There are four types of parainfluenza virus. They can all cause lower or upper respiratory infections in adults and children. The virus can cause croup, bronchiolitis, bronchitis and certain types of pneumonia.Upper respiratory infectionsThe common cold most often causes a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms....Read Article Now Book Mark Article CroupCroup is an infection of the upper airways that causes breathing difficulty and a barking cough. Croup is due to swelling around the vocal cords. I...Read Article Now Book Mark Article BronchiolitisBronchiolitis is swelling and mucus buildup in the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchioles). It is usually due to a viral infection....Read Article Now Book Mark Article BronchitisAcute bronchitis is swelling and inflamed tissue in the bronchi, the main passages that carry air to the lungs. This swelling narrows the airways, w...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PneumoniaPneumonia is inflamed or swollen lung tissue due to infection with a germ. Viral pneumonia is caused by a virus.Read Article Now Book Mark Article The exact number of parainfluenza cases is unknown. The number is suspected to be very high. Infections are most common in fall and winter. Parainfluenza infections are most severe in infants and become less severe with age. By school age, most children have been exposed to the parainfluenza virus. Most children and adults have antibodies against parainfluenza, although they can get repeat infections. Symptoms Symptoms vary depending on the type of infection. Cold-like symptoms consisting of a runny nose and mild cough are common. Life-threatening respiratory symptoms can be seen in young infants with bronchiolitis and those with weak immune system.In general, symptoms may include:Sore throat Fever Runny or stuffy nose Chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing WheezingWheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing. It occurs when air moves through narrowed breathing tubes in the lungs.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cough or croupCroupCroup is an infection of the upper airways that causes breathing difficulty and a barking cough. Croup is due to swelling around the vocal cords. I...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests A physical exam may show sinus tenderness, swollen glands, and a red throat. Your health care provider will listen to the lungs and chest with a stethoscope. Abnormal sounds, such as crackling or wheezing, may be heard.Tests that may be done include:Arterial blood gases Arterial blood gasesBlood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood cultures (to check for other causes of pneumonia) Blood culturesA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the chest CT scan of the chestA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Swab of nose for rapid viral test including the virus that causes COVID-19COVID-19Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that causes fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, but many other symptoms can occur....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment There is no specific treatment for parainfluenza infection. Certain treatments are available for the symptoms of croup and bronchiolitis to make breathing easier. Outlook (Prognosis) Most infections in adults and older children are mild and recovery takes place without treatment, unless the person is very old or has an abnormal immune system. Medical intervention may be necessary if breathing difficulties develop.Breathing difficultiesBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airRead Article Now Book Mark Article Possible Complications Secondary bacterial infections are the most common complication. Airway obstruction in croup and bronchiolitis can be severe and even life threatening, especially in younger children. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:You or your child develops croup, wheezing, or any other type of breathing difficulty. A child under 18 months develops any type of upper respiratory symptom. Prevention There are no vaccines available for parainfluenza. A few preventive measures that may help include:Avoid crowds to limit exposure during peak outbreaks. Wash your hands often. Limit exposure to day care centers and nurseries, if possible.Open ReferencesReferencesIson MG. Parainfluenza viruses. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 156.Weinberg GA, Edwards KM. Parainfluenza viral disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 331.Welliver Sr RC. Parainfluenza viruses. In: Cherry JD, Harrison GJ, Kaplan SL, Steinbach WJ, Hotez PJ, eds. Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 179.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Common cold(Condition)Croup(Condition)Bronchiolitis(Condition)Acute bronchitis(Condition)Breathing difficulty(Symptoms)Colds and the flu - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 8/19/2024 Reviewed By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, VA New Jersey Health Care System, Clinical Assistant Professor, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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ParainfluenzaHuman parainfluenza virus; HPIVs Parainfluenza refers to a group of viruses that lead to upper and lower respiratory infections. Causes There are four types of parainfluenza virus. They can all cause lower or upper respiratory infections in adults and children. The virus can cause croup, bronchiolitis, bronchitis and certain types of pneumonia.Upper respiratory infectionsThe common cold most often causes a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms....Read Article Now Book Mark Article CroupCroup is an infection of the upper airways that causes breathing difficulty and a barking cough. Croup is due to swelling around the vocal cords. I...Read Article Now Book Mark Article BronchiolitisBronchiolitis is swelling and mucus buildup in the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchioles). It is usually due to a viral infection....Read Article Now Book Mark Article BronchitisAcute bronchitis is swelling and inflamed tissue in the bronchi, the main passages that carry air to the lungs. This swelling narrows the airways, w...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PneumoniaPneumonia is inflamed or swollen lung tissue due to infection with a germ. Viral pneumonia is caused by a virus.Read Article Now Book Mark Article The exact number of parainfluenza cases is unknown. The number is suspected to be very high. Infections are most common in fall and winter. Parainfluenza infections are most severe in infants and become less severe with age. By school age, most children have been exposed to the parainfluenza virus. Most children and adults have antibodies against parainfluenza, although they can get repeat infections. Symptoms Symptoms vary depending on the type of infection. Cold-like symptoms consisting of a runny nose and mild cough are common. Life-threatening respiratory symptoms can be seen in young infants with bronchiolitis and those with weak immune system.In general, symptoms may include:Sore throat Fever Runny or stuffy nose Chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing WheezingWheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing. It occurs when air moves through narrowed breathing tubes in the lungs.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cough or croupCroupCroup is an infection of the upper airways that causes breathing difficulty and a barking cough. Croup is due to swelling around the vocal cords. I...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests A physical exam may show sinus tenderness, swollen glands, and a red throat. Your health care provider will listen to the lungs and chest with a stethoscope. Abnormal sounds, such as crackling or wheezing, may be heard.Tests that may be done include:Arterial blood gases Arterial blood gasesBlood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood cultures (to check for other causes of pneumonia) Blood culturesA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the chest CT scan of the chestA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Swab of nose for rapid viral test including the virus that causes COVID-19COVID-19Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that causes fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, but many other symptoms can occur....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment There is no specific treatment for parainfluenza infection. Certain treatments are available for the symptoms of croup and bronchiolitis to make breathing easier. Outlook (Prognosis) Most infections in adults and older children are mild and recovery takes place without treatment, unless the person is very old or has an abnormal immune system. Medical intervention may be necessary if breathing difficulties develop.Breathing difficultiesBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airRead Article Now Book Mark Article Possible Complications Secondary bacterial infections are the most common complication. Airway obstruction in croup and bronchiolitis can be severe and even life threatening, especially in younger children. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:You or your child develops croup, wheezing, or any other type of breathing difficulty. A child under 18 months develops any type of upper respiratory symptom. Prevention There are no vaccines available for parainfluenza. A few preventive measures that may help include:Avoid crowds to limit exposure during peak outbreaks. Wash your hands often. Limit exposure to day care centers and nurseries, if possible.Open ReferencesReferencesIson MG. Parainfluenza viruses. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 156.Weinberg GA, Edwards KM. Parainfluenza viral disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 331.Welliver Sr RC. Parainfluenza viruses. In: Cherry JD, Harrison GJ, Kaplan SL, Steinbach WJ, Hotez PJ, eds. Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 179.
