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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
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Respiratory viruses transmission from children to adults within a household

Chandini Raina MacIntyre1, Iman Ridda, Holly Seale

  • 1School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia.

Vaccine
|November 29, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This study tracked respiratory virus transmission from children in emergency departments to their families. Household transmission risk from a sick child to an adult was estimated at 3% per week.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Influenza and other respiratory viruses pose a significant public health burden.
  • Understanding transmission dynamics within households is crucial for control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the rate of household transmission of respiratory viruses from children presenting to an Emergency Department to their family members.
  • To identify common respiratory pathogens spread within families.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, hospital-based surveillance study over three winter seasons (2006-2008).
  • Recruited 168 children aged <1-15 years with influenza-like illness (ILI) and their healthy families.
  • Active surveillance including viral pathogen detection in children and symptomatic family members.

Main Results:

  • Respiratory viruses detected in 60.8% of children with ILI; influenza was most common (34%).
  • 12% of family members developed ILI within a week; 42.3% of these had detectable viral pathogens.
  • Estimated household transmission risk of respiratory viruses from a sick child to an adult contact was 3% per week.

Conclusions:

  • Provides quantitative, prospective data on household transmission rates of respiratory infections from children to adults.
  • Highlights the role of children in emergency departments as a source of household viral spread.
  • Informs public health interventions aimed at reducing intrafamilial transmission of respiratory viruses.
Abstract

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