Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026
Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Published on: July 27, 2021
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Surveillance System in Japan: Assessment of Recent Trends, 2008-2015
Kazuhiko Kanou1, Yuzo Arima1, Hitomi Kinoshita1
1Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
Insights
Recent increases in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) notifications in Japan may be due to more frequent testing, not necessarily more infections. This study analyzed RSV surveillance data to clarify trends in pediatric respiratory illness.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of infant lower respiratory tract illness.
- Japanese RSV surveillance began in 2003 with ~3,000 pediatric sentinel sites.
- Interpreting recent RSV trends is difficult due to suspected increased testing and expanded insurance coverage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate RSV surveillance data in Japan from 2008-2015.
- To assess the impact of increased testing frequency and insurance expansion on RSV notification trends.
- To clarify the true incidence of RSV infections in young children.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed RSV surveillance data from 2008-2015.
- Considered the number of reporting sites and restricted analysis to continuously reporting sites (n=1,372).
- Compared RSV notification increases in clinics versus hospitals after insurance expansion in late 2011.
Main Results:
- Annual RSV notifications and reporting sites both increased.
- The magnitude of increase was smaller when data was restricted to continuously reporting sites.
- RSV notifications rose more significantly in clinics than hospitals post-insurance expansion.
Conclusions:
- The increase in RSV notifications may be partly attributed to increased testing frequency.
- Changes in surveillance methodology and insurance coverage complicate trend interpretation.
- Further investigation is needed to accurately assess RSV burden in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract illness in infants and young children. In Japan, surveillance for RSV infection started in 2003 based on approximately 3,000 pediatric sentinel sites. In recent years, RSV notifications have increased, but the interpretation of trends has been challenging due to a suspected increase in testing frequency and the expansion of the insurance coverage for RSV testing to include certain outpatients in late 2011. Therefore, we evaluated RSV surveillance data during 2008-2015, considering the number of sites that reported at least one RSV case during a surveillance year and restricting to sites that had continuous reporting status since 2008. While annual RSV notifications had increased, the number of sites reporting also increased. And the same magnitude of increase was not observed when the number of cases reported was restricted to the 1,372 sites that had continuous reporting status since 2008. Additionally, in the year following the insurance expansion, RSV notifications increased more remarkably for clinics than for hospitals. These results suggested that some of the recent increases in notifications might be due to an increase in testing frequency.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
01:20Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation:
01:27Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration...
01:29Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
01:24Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Palpation
Thoracic Palpation
Thoracic palpation detects tenderness, masses, lesions, respiratory excursions, and vocal fremitus. The nurse assesses...
01:26Principles of Disease Surveillance