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Updated: Jun 28, 2025
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
RSV Disease Burden in Primary Care in Italy: A Multi-Region Pediatric Study, Winter Season 2022-2023
Michela Scarpaci1, Sara Bracaloni1, Enrica Esposito1
1Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Insights
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) significantly impacts children under 5, causing substantial clinical and socioeconomic burdens in Italian primary care. This study quantifies RSV
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory infections in young children.
- The socioeconomic impact and burden of RSV in primary care settings are not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical and socioeconomic burden of RSV disease in primary care settings in Italy.
- To establish a baseline understanding of RSV burden before new immunization strategies.
Main Methods:
- A community-based study involving 55 pediatricians across five Italian regions during the 2022/2023 winter season.
- Collected nasal swabs for RSV molecular testing from 650 children under 5 with acute respiratory infections (ARIs).
- Utilized baseline and follow-up questionnaires for parents of RSV-positive children to assess clinical and socioeconomic impact.
Main Results:
- RSV was confirmed in 37.8% of ARI cases, with RSV subtype B being predominant (65.4%).
- RSV-positive children were younger (median 12.5 months) and had a mean symptom duration of 11.47 days.
- Significant socioeconomic impact: 53% of children missed school, 46% of parents lost workdays, and 25% of families incurred extra costs.
Conclusions:
- This study provides crucial baseline data on the burden of RSV in Italian primary care.
- Findings highlight the considerable clinical and socioeconomic impact of RSV in young children.
- Data is essential for informing future public health strategies and the impact of immunization programs.
Introduction:
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most frequent causes of respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age, but its socioeconomic impact and burden in primary care settings is still little studied.
Methods:
During the 2022/2023 winter season, 55 pediatricians from five Italian regions participated in our community-based study. They collected a nasal swab for RSV molecular test from 650 patients under the age of 5 with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and performed a baseline questionnaire. The clinical and socioeconomic burden of RSV disease in primary care was evaluated by two follow-up questionnaires completed by the parents of positive children on Days 14 and 30.
Results:
RSV laboratory-confirmed cases were 37.8% of the total recruited ARI cases, with RSV subtype B accounting for the majority (65.4%) of RSV-positive swabs. RSV-positive children were younger than RSV-negative ones (median 12.5 vs. 16.5 months). The mean duration of symptoms for all children infected by RSV was 11.47 ± 6.27 days. We did not observe substantial differences in clinical severity between the two RSV subtypes, but RSV-A positive patients required more additional pediatric examinations than RSV-B cases. The socioeconomic impact of RSV infection was considerable, causing 53% of children to be absent from school, 46% of parents to lose working days, and 25% of families to incur extra costs.
Conclusions:
Our findings describe a baseline of the RSV disease burden in primary care in Italy before the introduction of upcoming immunization strategies.
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