title: The impact of severe respiratory syncytial virus on the child, caregiver, and family during hospitalization and recovery.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: MEDTAP Institute at UBC, 7101 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. leidy@medtap.com
authors.forename: Nancy Kline
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Leidy
authors.forename: Mary Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Marcin
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Lorry R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Frankel
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Langkamp
authors.forename: Eric A F
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Simoes
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen