The impact of severe respiratory syncytial virus on the child, caregiver, and family during hospitalization and recovery.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the magnitude of child, caregiver, and family distress associated with hospitalization for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the posthospitalization recovery period.


METHODS
A prospective study of 46 RSV-hospitalized infants and children < or =30 months of age with a history of prematurity (gestational age of < or =35 weeks) and 45 age-matched control subjects was performed. RSV group data were gathered during hospitalization and on days 4, 14, 21, and 60 after discharge; control group data were collected at the end of the RSV season and 60 days thereafter.


METHODS
RSV severity; caregiver's rating of the child's health (100-point rating) and functional status (Functional Status IIR); caregiver health, stress (7-point rating), and anxiety (Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory); and family health and functioning (Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale II) were recorded.


RESULTS
The mean age of the sample was 10.2 months; 51% of the subjects were male. The average duration of hospital stay for the RSV group was 5.8 +/- 8 days. Most patients received supplemental oxygen (76%) and were monitored for apnea (60%). The mean age of the caregivers (93% mothers) was 29 years. During hospitalization, the RSV-infected patients' health and functional status were significantly poorer than those of control subjects. Caregivers of RSV-infected children reported more stress, greater anxiety, poorer health, and poorer family health and functioning. As long as 60 days after discharge, caregivers of RSV-infected children reported the children's health as significantly poorer and were personally more anxious, compared with control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
RSV-related hospitalization creates significant distress for infants and children, caregivers, and families, with some effects extending as long as 60 days after discharge.
Leidy
Nancy Kline
NK
MEDTAP Institute at UBC, 7101 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. leidy@medtap.com
Margolis
Mary Kay
MK
Marcin
James P
JP
Flynn
Jennifer A
JA
Frankel
Lorry R
LR
Johnson
Susan
S
Langkamp
Diane
D
Simoes
Eric A F
EA
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003289:Convalescence; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
D010100:Oxygen