The impact of respiratory syncytial virus infection: a prospective study in hospitalized infants younger than 2 years.
BACKGROUND
We analyzed the influence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on the clinical course and management of infants hospitalized due to viral upper and lower respiratory tract infections (U/LRTI).


METHODS
Infants younger than 2 years were prospectively tested for RSV infection by antigen detection in nasopharyngeal aspirates between November 1999 and October 2000.


RESULTS
Of 281 infants hospitalized during the study period, 58 (21%) tested RSV positive. Seasonal distribution of RSV infections showed a peak in March (45% of all U/LRTI). Infants with RSV infection (12% were preterm, 5% had congenital heart disease) were younger (p < 0.001), had more severe U/LRTI (p < 0.001), longer hospitalizations (p < 0.001), more days with oxygen requirement (p < 0.001) and respiratory support (p = 0016) and more frequent requirements for bronchodilators (p = 0.002) and corticosteroids (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
RSV contributed to prolonged hospitalizations and more severe clinical courses of disease both in very young term and preterm infants.
Resch
B
B
Dept. of Pediatrics, University Hospital Graz, Austria. bernard.resch@kfunigraz.ac.at
Gusenleitner
W
W
Müller
W
W
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D012621:Seasons; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents