EFFECT OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTION ON PULMONARY FUNCTION IN MILITARY RECRUITS

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Abstract
Healthy recruits (52) and 36 recruits with pneumonia were studied with spirometry and for CO diffusing capacity. On the basis of cultural and serologic testing, the patients were divided into 4 groups: adenoviral pneumonia, pneumococcal pneumonia, combined adenoviral and pneumococcal pneumonia, and pneumonia of unknown etiology. In the adenoviral group the patients had transient decreases in vital capacity and maximal voluntary ventilation. In the other groups, the maximal voluntary ventilation was still mildly decreased 2 mo. after the onset of illness. The CO diffusing capacity was normal in all groups. This latter finding is in contrast to other studies of nonbacterial pneumonias. The less extensive pneumonic process in the present series is the probable cause of this difference.