Significance of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in the 1st year of life.
BACKGROUND
In this study we investigated the frequency, symptoms and predisposing factors of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection during the 1st year of life in infants with obstructive airway disease in comparison with infants without airway disease.


METHODS
We enrolled 216 infants in their 1st year of life, who were hospitalized because of obstructive airway disease. As an age- and sex-balanced control group, we examined 133 infants hospitalized for other reasons than airway disease.


METHODS
A deep pharyngeal swab was taken from all infants and immediately examined for the presence of RSV antigen by using an enzyme immunoassay (Directigen). Patient data were surveyed by a questionnaire.


RESULTS
The frequency of RSV infections among infants with obstructive airway disease (34.3%; n = 74) differed significantly from the control group (15%; n = 20; p < 0.01). The frequency of RSV-infected infants with obstructive airway disease decreased with age ranging from 39.1% in trimenon I to 29.0% in trimenon IV. This trend was not observed in the control group. With respect to clinical symptoms and risk factors, there were no differences between RSV-infected versus noninfected infants.


CONCLUSIONS
RSV is an important agent causing lower obstructive airway disease (34.3% of all patients). There are no specific symptoms that can be used for diagnosing RSV infection. In order to prevent other patients on the ward from contracting nosocomial RSV infection and in the light of therapeutic options, one should test newly admitted patients presenting with symptoms of an obstructive airway disease for RSV antigen. On a ward with high-risk patients, we would recommend the use of an RSV test for all new patients.
Gross
M
M
Children's Hospital, Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster, Germany.
Brune
T
T
Jorch
G
G
Rabe
H
H
Hentschel
R
R
D000367:Age Factors; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; D012307:Risk Factors