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An Improved and High Throughput Respiratory Syncytial Virus RSV Micro-neutralization Assay

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Published on: January 26, 2019

Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Related Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Hospitalized Thai Children:

Phanthila Sitthikarnkha¹, Rattapon Uppala¹, Sirapoom Niamsanit¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mittraphap Road, Muang, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)

|December 23, 2022

Insights

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in Thai children, with pneumonia being the most common. Infants under one year and those with underlying conditions face the highest mortality risk.

Area of Science:

Pediatrics
Infectious Diseases
Epidemiology

Background:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children globally.
Understanding the epidemiology and risk factors of RSV-LRTI in specific populations is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine the epidemiology, seasonal variations, morbidity, and mortality of RSV infection among hospitalized children with LRTI in Thailand.
To identify risk factors associated with severe RSV-LRTI-related morbidity and mortality.

Main Methods:

Retrospective review of data from the National Health Security Office in Thailand (2015-2020).
Inclusion of hospitalized children (<18 years) diagnosed with RSV-related LRTI using ICD-10-TM codes.
Analysis of RSV pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and bronchitis cases.

Main Results:

RSV-related LRTI accounted for 19,340 hospital admissions.
RSV pneumonia was the leading cause (70.76%), followed by bronchiolitis (14.73%) and bronchitis (14.51%).
Peak incidence occurred during the rainy season (August-October); mortality was highest in infants <1 year and those with comorbidities.

Conclusions:

RSV pneumonia is the primary cause of hospitalization for RSV-LRTI in children in Thailand.
Interventions should target infants under one year and children with pre-existing conditions due to higher mortality risks.

Read full analysis

Abstract:

Objectives: This study sought to determine the epidemiology, seasonal variations, morbidity, and mortality of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection among hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract infection in Thailand. In addition, we assessed the risk factors associated with severe RSV lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI)-related morbidity and mortality. Methods: The data were reviewed retrospectively from the National Health Security Office for hospitalized children younger than 18 years old diagnosed with RSV-related LRTI in Thailand, between the fiscal years of 2015 to 2020. The RSV-related LRTIs were identified using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Thai Modification. ICD-10-TM codes J12.1, J20.5, and J21.0, which represent respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia, acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus, and acute bronchiolitis due to respiratory syncytial virus, respectively, were studied. Results: During the study period, RSV-related LRTI accounted for 19,340 of the 1,610,160 hospital admissions due to LRTI. RSV pneumonia was the leading cause of hospitalization (13,684/19,340; 70.76%), followed by bronchiolitis (2849/19,340; 14.73%) and bronchitis (2807/19,340; 14.51%), respectively. The highest peak incidence of 73.55 percent occurred during Thailand’s rainy season, from August to October. The mortality rate of RSV-related LRTI in infants younger than 1 year of age was 1.75 per 100,000 person years, which was significantly higher than that of children 1 to younger than 5 years old and children 5 to younger than 18 years old (0.21 per 100,000 person years and 0.01 per 100,000 person years, respectively, p-value < 0.001). Factors associated with mortality were congenital heart disease, hematologic malignancy, malnutrition, and neurological disease. Conclusions: In children with RSV LRTI, pneumonia was the leading cause of hospitalization. The admission rate was highest during the rainy season. Mortality from RSV-related LRTI was higher in children under 1 year old and in children with underlying illnesses; future preventive interventions should target these groups of patients.

Keywords:

children mortality respiratory syncytial virus respiratory tract infection

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