[Respiratory syncytial virus infections in hospitalized children in Akershus].
BACKGROUND
The study describes hospitalisations for RSV infections among children < 15 years.


METHODS
The study is a population-based retrospective analysis of admission data from February 1993 through January 2000 of children who tested positive for RSV in nasopharyngeal aspirates.


RESULTS
1,002 cases were identified of which 69.5% were < 1 year old children. Estimated annual incidence of RSV infection requiring hospitalisation was 2.1/1,000 Children < 15 years, 24.9/1,000 infants < 1 year, and 28.4/1,000 infants < 6 months old. Males were more likely to be hospitalised than females. The overall mortality was 0.5%. Premature infants with birthweight < or = 1,000 g had the highest hospitalisation rates, the longest hospital stay and most complications. However, surprisingly many complications occurred among previously healthy infants.


CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations for RSV prophylaxis among preterm infants should be investigated in a larger study. Development of an RSV vaccine should be a priority.
Fjaerli
H O
HO
Barneavdelingen, Sentralsykehuset i Akershus, Nordbyhagen.
Farstad
T
T
Tjade
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies