Hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus in the paediatric population in Spain

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Community-acquired respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant pathogen in pediatric populations.
• Understanding the incidence of RSV-related hospitalizations is crucial for public health planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of hospitalization for laboratory-confirmed RSV infection in children under five years old in southern Europe.
• To identify risk factors and demographic trends associated with RSV hospitalizations.

Main Methods:

• Population-based retrospective study analyzing data from July 1996 to June 2000.
• Inclusion of 15,700 children under five years old served by a single hospital.
• Laboratory confirmation of RSV in nasopharyngeal aspirates from children with acute respiratory infections.

Main Results:

• 390 RSV hospitalizations were detected; 83.3% of affected children were under one year old.
• Annual hospitalization rates were 37/1000 for infants under 6 months and 25/1000 for those under 1 year.
• 2.5% of infants under one year and 5% under three months were hospitalized; 7% required ICU admission, mostly neonates.

Conclusions:

• RSV infection is a frequent cause of hospitalization in young Spanish children, particularly those under one year.
• The high incidence underscores the need for effective RSV prevention strategies, including vaccines.
• RSV prevention should be a public health priority to reduce pediatric hospitalizations.