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Management of Infants Treated for Respiratory Viral Infections: A Finnish Retrospective Register-Based Study
Sallamaria Länsisalo1, Paula Heikkilä2,3, Sauli Palmu2,4
1Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology Tampere University Tampere Finland.
Insights
Infants with respiratory infections often received symptom-relieving medications with good results. Antibiotics were frequently used, even for viral infections, often to treat secondary bacterial infections like otitis media.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Viral respiratory tract infections are highly prevalent in children, leading to numerous healthcare visits.
- Infants, particularly those under one year, experience the highest incidence of respiratory infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze treatment patterns for infants with fever and respiratory symptoms at Tampere University Hospital (Tays).
- To evaluate infant responses to various treatments administered during hospitalization.
- To identify the specific diagnoses underlying respiratory symptoms in infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of electronic patient records for infants under one year old presenting with fever and respiratory symptoms.
- Documentation of medications, treatments, and initial responses to therapy.
- Focus on the first instance of medication administration if repeated.
Main Results:
- Out of 119 infant episodes, 50 (42%) required hospitalization.
- Symptom-relieving medications like paracetamol were commonly administered with positive outcomes.
- Antibiotics were given to 59% of infants, primarily for otitis media; bronchiolitis/bronchitis was the most frequent diagnosis (43%).
Conclusions:
- Hospitalization was necessary for nearly half of the infants studied.
- Analgesics and other symptom-relieving drugs were primary treatment choices, demonstrating good efficacy.
- Antibiotic use was common, even in cases of predominantly viral infections, often addressing secondary bacterial infections.
Background And Aims:
Viral respiratory tract infections are common in all age groups, and they are responsible for a vast number of health care visits every year. Furthermore, the incidence of respiratory infections is the highest in children. We aimed to determine how infants presenting with fever and symptoms of respiratory infections were treated at Tampere University Hospital (Tays) and their responses to treatment. The secondary purpose was to describe the specific diagnosis behind the respiratory symptoms.
Methods:
This study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics in Tays, Finland. Inclusion criteria were age < 1 year, fever, and symptoms of a respiratory infection. We documented from the electronic patient records the medication and other treatments the infants received during their hospital stays. For infants given the same medication multiple times, only the first dosing and response to that medication were documented.
Results:
The study included 119 episodes (117 infants), 50 (42%) of whom were hospitalized. Symptom-relieving medications, such as paracetamol, were used frequently, with generally good responses. Overall, 59% of the infants were administered antibiotics, the most common indication being otitis media. The most common primary or secondary diagnosis was bronchiolitis or bronchitis (43%).
Conclusion:
Nearly half of the infants needed hospitalization. Symptom-relieving medications, such as analgesics, were a key treatment choice, and the responses were generally good. Although the majority of the infants had a viral infection, antibiotics were used frequently, at least partially due to secondary bacterial infections.
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