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Respiratory pathogens in respiratory tract illnesses during the first year of life: a birth cohort study

Marieke M van der Zalm1, Cuno S P M Uiterwaal, Berry Wilbrink

  • 1Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. M.M.vanderZalm@umcutrecht.nl

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|June 9, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Human rhinovirus (HRV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are common in infants. HRV caused more symptom duration, while RSV led to more doctor visits, but HRV had a higher overall disease burden in the first year of life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Virology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Respiratory viruses are primary triggers of childhood respiratory illnesses.
  • Limited data exists on the prevalence and clinical impact of respiratory pathogens in infants.
  • This study addresses the knowledge gap by examining respiratory pathogens in infants during their first year of life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the occurrence of respiratory pathogens in infants presenting with respiratory tract infections.
  • To evaluate the clinical impact of identified respiratory pathogens in this age group.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective birth cohort study followed infants from birth through their first year.
  • Daily questionnaires tracked respiratory symptoms, and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected during symptomatic episodes.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect a wide range of respiratory pathogens.

Main Results:

  • 85% of collected samples from 305 infants revealed at least one respiratory pathogen.
  • Human rhinovirus (HRV) was the most common (73%), followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (11%) and coronavirus (8%).
  • HRV infections correlated with longer symptom duration, while RSV infections led to more physician visits; HRV infections presented a higher overall disease burden.

Conclusions:

  • A high prevalence of respiratory pathogens, predominantly HRV, was observed in infants with reported respiratory illnesses in their first year.
  • While RSV infections appeared to cause more severe symptoms, HRV infections contributed to a greater overall disease burden in infants.
  • Findings highlight the significant impact of common respiratory viruses on infant health during the first year of life.
Abstract

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