title: Hospitalizations for acute lower respiratory tract infection due to respiratory syncytial virus in Thailand, 2008-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few population-based estimates of the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in low- or middle-income countries are available. We describe the incidence and epidemiology of hospitalizations for RSV-associated acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) detected by active population-based surveillance in 2 rural Thailand provinces during 2008-2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients hospitalized with ALRI were systematically sampled. Consenting patients provided nasopharyngeal swab specimens for RSV testing by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 13 982 enrolled patients hospitalized with ALRI, 1137 (8.1%) were RSV positive. After adjustment for sampling and nonenrollment, the incidence of RSV-associated ALRI hospitalization was 85 cases per 100,000 persons/year. The highest rates occurred among children aged <5 years (981 cases per 100,000 persons/year) and <1 year (1543 cases per 100,000 persons/year). Rates were low among older children and young adults but high among persons aged >65 years (130 cases per 100,000 persons/year). Eight (0.7%) RSV-infected study patients died during hospitalization. Annual RSV hospitalizations peaked during July-October with almost no documented RSV hospitalizations during January-June.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate the substantial contribution of RSV to global ALRI burden, especially in children aged <5 years and the elderly, and underscore the urgent need for effective prevention measures.
authors.affiliation: International Emerging Infections Program, Global Disease Detection Regional Center, Thailand Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)-US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration.
authors.forename: Sathapana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naorat
authors.forename: Malinee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chittaganpitch
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thamthitiwat
authors.forename: Sununta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henchaichon
authors.forename: Pongpun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sawatwong
authors.forename: Prasong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Srisaengchai
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Somchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chuananon
authors.forename: Tussanee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amornintapichet
authors.forename: Somrak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chantra
authors.forename: Dean D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Erdman
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Maloney
authors.forename: Passakorn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Akarasewi
authors.forename: Henry C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Baggett
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Thailand; acute lower respiratory infection; respiratory syncytial virus