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Relative impact of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in young children

Florence T Bourgeois1, Clarissa Valim, Alexander J McAdam

  • 1Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. florence.bourgeois@childrens.harvard.edu

Pediatrics
|November 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) leads to more emergency department visits and hospitalizations in young children compared to influenza. This highlights the significant impact of RSV on pediatric healthcare resource use.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are common causes of acute respiratory infections in young children.
  • Understanding the comparative burden of these viral infections is crucial for resource allocation and public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure the relative impact of influenza and RSV on emergency department (ED) visits, clinical care needs, and healthcare resource utilization in children.
  • To estimate the national healthcare resource use associated with influenza and RSV infections in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • A study enrolled children aged 7 years or younger treated for acute respiratory infections in a pediatric hospital's ED over two winter seasons (2003-2005).
  • Health care resource use for children with confirmed influenza or RSV infections was quantified.
  • Data were extrapolated to estimate national resource use for both viruses.

Main Results:

  • Nationally, RSV accounted for an estimated 21.5 ED visits per 1000 children, compared to 10.2 for influenza.
  • Infants aged 0-23 months with RSV had the highest ED visit rate (64.4 per 1000).
  • Hospitalization rates were significantly higher for RSV (8.5 per 1000) than for influenza (1.4 per 1000). Caregiver workdays missed were also substantially higher for RSV (716,404 days) versus influenza (246,965 days).

Conclusions:

  • RSV infections impose a greater burden on young children, resulting in higher rates of ED visits, hospitalizations, and caregiver resource use than influenza.
  • These findings underscore the substantial outpatient burden of influenza and RSV in children and inform prevention and treatment strategies.
Abstract

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