title: Does cesarean section pose a risk of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in infants and children?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the risk of acquiring acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in infants and children delivered by the mode of cesarean section (C-section).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective and descriptive study was conducted at Hamad Medical Corporation. Patients with ages 0 to 36 months hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of RSV bronchiolitis was observed to be higher among C-section delivery compared to normal spontaneous vaginal delivery [odds ratio=1.10; 95% confidence interval (0.57, 1.80); P=0.965]; however, it was not statistically significant. Gestational age ≤35 weeks was significantly associated with increased risk of RSV bronchiolitis compared to gestational age >35 weeks [odds ratio=3.12; 95% confidence interval (1.53, 6.38); P=0.002].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delivery by C-section does not appear to increase the risk of RSV bronchiolitis in infants compared with normal spontaneous vaginal delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, General Pediatrics Section, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: mhendaus@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hendaus
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, General Pediatrics Section, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Weil Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Ahmed H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Alhammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, General Pediatrics Section, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Mohamed S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Khalifa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, General Pediatrics Section, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Eshan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muneer
keywords: Bronchiolitis; Delivery; Mode