Abstract

The Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) was described in USA in 1993. Cases of HPS have been retrospectively diagnosed by serological techniques back to 1959 in USA and to 1980 in Argentina. In Chile, cases have been reported since 1995. Infection with hantavirus was studied in three family groups who were attended at the Hospital Clínico Valdivia as probable severe cases of atypical pneumonia between February and April 1993. IgG anti hantavirus antibodies with titles > 1/6400, were found in 5 of 7 patients. Their relatives were serologically negative. The patients presented different degrees of pulmonary and body damage, hypoxemia, thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia. In some cases, increases in leukocyte counts, in GOT and LDH plasmatic levels and hemoconcentration, were found. The HPS related risk factors found were rurality, farm work surrounding their houses, contact with rodents and their excrements, cleaning of empty rural cottages and warehouses. The presence of HPS since 1993 was established in three family groups living in the province of Valdivia. These findings indicate that in unexplained cases of acute respiratory distress with epidemiological information of contact with rodents, it is necessary to bear the etiology of hantavirus in mind.