Respiratory syncytial virus: clinical and epidemiological pattern in pediatric patients admitted to a children's hospital between 2000 and 2013
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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
María Florencia Lucion1, María del Valle Juarez1, Mariana Viegas1
1Área Epidemiología, División Promoción y Protección de la Salud, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez.
Insights
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of severe respiratory infections in children. Infants under 3 months, particularly those with bronchiolitis and hypoxemia, face the highest risk of RSV infection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a primary cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children.
- Understanding RSV's clinical and epidemiological patterns is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of RSV infections in hospitalized children.
- To identify risk factors associated with RSV infection.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study was conducted from 2000-2013.
- Virological diagnosis of RSV and other respiratory viruses was performed using indirect immunofluorescence on nasopharyngeal aspirates.
Main Results:
- RSV was the predominant virus (81.8%) among 12,555 children studied, showing a distinct seasonal pattern from May to July.
- Infants under 3 months, bronchiolitis presentation, and hypoxemia were independent predictors of RSV infection.
- The case fatality rate was 1.9%, with chronic respiratory disease being a common comorbidity.
Conclusions:
- RSV infections exhibit a clear seasonal distribution.
- Young infants, especially those under 3 months with bronchiolitis and hypoxemia, are at significantly higher risk for RSV infection.
Introduction:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major causative organism associated with acute lower respiratory tract infections in children.The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological pattern of RSV and identify risk factors for RSV infection.
Population And Methods:
Prospective, cohort study on patients hospitalized due to acute lower respiratory tract infection at Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez between March and November throughout the 2000-2013 period. The virological diagnosis of RSV, adenovirus, influenza and parainfluenza was performed by indirect immunofluorescence using nasopharyngeal aspirates.
Results:
A total of 12,555 children were included, 38.2% (4798) had virus rescued from samples. RSV accounted for 81.8% of cases (3924/4798) with no significant annual variations (71.2- 88.1) and with an epidemic seasonal pattern(May through July); RSV was followed by influenza (7.6%), parainfluenza (5.9%), and adenovirus (4.7%).The median age of patients with RSV rescue (3924) was 7 months old (0- 214 months old), while 74.2% were younger than 1 year old, 43.1% were younger than 6 months old, 56.5% were males and the most common clinical presentation was bronchiolitis (60.7%). Comorbidities were observed in 41.6% of cases. The most common comorbidities were chronic respiratory disease (74%), congenital heart disease (14%), and chronic neurological disease (10.2%).Complications occurred in 25%of cases. The case fatality rate was 1.9% (74/3888). Independent predictors of RSV infection were age <3 months old (OR: 2.8 [2.14-3.67], p < 0.01),clinical presentation of bronchiolitis (OR: 1.54 [1.32-1.79], p < 0.01), and hypoxemia at the time of admission (OR: 1.84 [1.42-2.37], p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
RSV infection displayed a seasonal pattern and was associated with infants younger than 3 months old with bronchiolitis and hypoxemia at the time of admission.
