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RSV frequency in children below 2 years hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infections
Mustafa Hacımustafaoğlu1, Solmaz Celebi, Sefika Elmas Bozdemir
1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey. mkemal@uludag.edu.tr.
Insights
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) significantly burdens young children, causing frequent hospitalizations for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). This study found RSV accounted for over one-third of LRTI hospitalizations in children under two, particularly in infants aged 0-3 months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children under five.
- Hospitalization for LRTI is common in children under two years old, representing a significant public health concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of RSV-related hospitalizations for LRTI in children aged two years and younger.
- To analyze the burden of RSV in acute bronchiolitis and pneumonia hospitalizations within this age group.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study evaluated children under two hospitalized for LRTI over one year in three major hospitals in Bursa City Center, Turkey.
- Nasal swabs were tested for RSV using the RSV Respi-Strip assay.
- Annual hospitalization incidences for LRTI and RSV-positive LRTI were calculated per 1000 children.
Main Results:
- Out of 671 children hospitalized for LRTI, 254 (37.9%) tested positive for RSV.
- RSV was associated with 41% of acute bronchiolitis and 34% of pneumonia hospitalizations.
- The highest RSV positivity rates were observed in infants aged 0-3 months (47.9% of LRTI hospitalizations).
- Annual incidence of RSV-positive LRTI hospitalization was 7.8/1000 children aged ≤2 years.
Conclusions:
- RSV is a major contributor to LRTI hospitalizations in children under two years old in Bursa, Turkey.
- Infants aged 0-3 months are particularly vulnerable to severe RSV infections requiring hospitalization.
- This study provides crucial data on the incidence of RSV-associated LRTI hospitalizations in Turkey.
Abstract:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequent agent of acute lower respiratory diseases and creates a significant burden of disease in children under 5 years all over the world. RSV causes severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) that require hospitalization, especially in children ≤2 years. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of RSV in children ≤2 years of age hospitalized for LRTI. Children ≤2 years of age hospitalized for one year for LRTI in the three largest hospitals of Bursa City Center, Turkey were evaluated. These three hospitals comprise 67.5% of all child beds in central Bursa, so this study allows us to evaluate the total disease burden and hospitalization incidence in central Bursa. Nasal swabs of the children were evaluated with RSV Respi- Strip (Coris Bioconcept Organization). A total of 671 children were hospitalized for LRTI, and 254 (37.9%) had at least one hospitalization that was positive for RSV. Of all patients with LRTI, 54.8% (368/671) were hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis, while 45.2% (303/671) were hospitalized for pneumonia. Of patients with acute bronchiolitis or pneumonia, 41% (151/368) and 34% (103/303) were RSV+, respectively. Of RSV+ hospitalized children, 59.5% (151/254) were diagnosed as acute bronchiolitis and 40.5% (103/254) as pneumonia. The annual incidences of hospitalization due to LRTI, acute bronchiolitis and pneumonia were 20.5/1000, 11.2/1000 and 9.3/1000, respectively, in children ≤2 years of age. The annual incidences of hospitalization due to RSV+ LRTI, acute bronchiolitis and pneumonia were found as 7.8/1000, 4.6/1000 and 3.2/1000, respectively, in children ≤2 years of age. More than one-third of all children hospitalized with LRTI (38.3%, n=257) were in the 0-3 months age group. Compared to other age groups, RSV positivity was highest in that age group for acute bronchiolitis (57%), pneumonia (39.5%) and also total children with LRTI (47.9%). RSV is a very important cause of lower respiratory infections in children ≤2 years of age and occurred most frequently in those 0-3 months of age in our study. Since there is no other study assessing the annual hospitalization incidence of RSV+LRTIs in one city in Turkey, our study has unique importance for providing valuable statistical data about RSV+LRTIs.
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