Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection During the First Year of Life. (22nd December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomas, Emilia; Mattila, Janna-Maija; Lehtinen, Pasi; Vuorinen, Tytti; Waris, Matti; Heikkinen, Terho
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 223:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 811
• Page End: 817
• Publication Date: 2020-12-22
• Subjects: burden of illness -- infant -- respiratory syncytial virus -- vaccines -- monoclonal antibodies -- antiviral agents; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa754
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Although many infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection are hospitalized, most infants are treated as outpatients. Limited data are available on the burden of RSV in outpatient infants. Methods: In a prospective study, we enrolled 431 newborn infants and followed them up for a 10-month period (September–June). During each respiratory illness, we examined the infants and obtained nasopharyngeal specimens for the detection of RSV. The parents completed daily symptom diaries throughout the study. Results: Among 408 active participants, the seasonal incidence rate of RSV illness was 328.4 per 1000 (95% confidence interval [CI], 275.2–389.0). Infants with ≥1 sibling had a 1.9-fold higher incidence of RSV illness than those without siblings (95% CI, 1.3–2.8; P < .001). Acute otitis media developed in 103 (76.9%) of 134 infants with RSV infection, and 95 (70.9%) were treated with antibiotics. Nine infants with RSV (6.7%) were hospitalized, for a seasonal incidence rate of RSV hospitalization of 22.1 per 1000 (95% CI, 10.1–41.9). Conclusions: The outpatient burden of RSV is heavy on infants during the first year of life. Acute otitis media is a frequent complication of RSV, and it should be included in cost-effectiveness analyses of prevention or treatment of RSV infections in infants. Abstract : In a prospective study of infants during their first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season, one-third had a symptomatic laboratory-confirmed RSV infection. Acute otitis media developed as a complication in 77% of infants with RSV, while 7% were hospitalized with bronchiolitis.