Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026
Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019
Clinical Burden and Healthcare Utilization Associated with Hospitalizations of RSV-Infected Polish Children During
Jan Mazela1,2, Teresa Jackowska3, Marcin Czech4
1Department of Neonatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, 60-535 Poznań, Poland.
Insights
Severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) primarily affects infants without comorbidities. Preventive strategies for RSV should be broadly applied to all children, not just those in high-risk groups, to reduce disease burden.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe respiratory illness and hospitalization in young children globally.
- Characterizing RSV hospitalizations in Poland is crucial for understanding disease burden and informing public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical and epidemiological features of children under five hospitalized with RSV in Poland.
- To describe current treatment patterns for RSV infections in hospitalized pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study conducted across 41 Polish hospitals from November 2023 to February 2024.
- Data collected from 419 pediatric patients (age ≤5 years) with confirmed RSV infection (antigen test or RT-PCR).
- Weighted and extrapolated data to represent the national population of hospitalized RSV patients aged 0-5 years.
Main Results:
- The majority of hospitalized patients (57.4%) were infants under 12 months; 85.8% had no comorbidities.
- Pneumonia (56.8%), bronchiolitis (35.9%), and bronchitis (12.4%) were the most common RSV manifestations.
- Treatments included respiratory support (21.1%), inhaled steroids (67.6%), antibiotics (61.5%), beta2-mimetics/anticholinergics (48.1%), and systemic steroids (44.3%).
Conclusions:
- Severe RSV predominantly impacts young children without pre-existing health conditions.
- Current treatment patterns involve significant use of respiratory support and various therapies, including steroids and antibiotics.
- Broadening preventive strategies beyond high-risk groups is recommended to decrease the overall burden of RSV disease.
Background:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of lower respiratory tract illness and hospitalizations in children aged ≤5 years worldwide. The aim of this study was to characterize the Polish population of patients aged ≤5 years who were hospitalized due to RSV infection, focusing on their clinical and epidemiological characteristics as well as treatment patterns.
Methods:
This retrospective observational study was conducted between November 2023 and February 2024 in 41 hospitals with pediatric departments across Poland. Data from patients aged ≤5 years admitted due to RSV infection confirmed with antigen test or RT-PCR were collected. The dataset was weighted and extrapolated to allow conclusions applicable to the general population of patients aged 0-5 years hospitalized with RSV infection in Poland.
Results:
Data from 419 patients were analyzed. Over half (57.4%) were younger than 12 months, 84% were born at term, and 85.8% had no comorbidities. The most frequent manifestations of RSV infections were pneumonia (56.8%), bronchiolitis (35.9%), and bronchitis (12.4%). Viral co-infections were identified in 8% of patients. Regarding treatment, 21.1% of patients required respiratory support, 67.6% received inhaled steroid therapy, 61.5% were treated with antibiotics, 48.1% received beta2-mimetics and anticholinergics, and 44.3% underwent systemic steroid therapy.
Conclusions:
Our findings confirm that severe RSV primarily affects the youngest children with no comorbidities who do not present high risk conditions. To reduce the overall disease burden, preventive strategies should be offered to all children, not being limited to those in risk groups.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
00:59Hospitals-II
Nurses that work in...
01:28Hospitals-I
01:26Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies.
01:15Seasoning of Wood
Achieving equilibrium moisture content is the goal of seasoning; this is the point where the wood's moisture content stabilizes to align with the moisture levels of the surrounding environment. Proper...
01:25Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis