Respiratory syncytial virus prevalence in children admitted to five Kenyan district hospitals: a cross-sectional study. Issue 1 (4th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Le Geyt, Jacqueline; Hauck, Stephanie; Lee, Mark; Mackintosh, Jennifer; Slater, Jessica; Razon, Duke; Williams, Bhanu
• Is Part Of: BMJ paediatrics open. Volume 3:Issue 1(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-03-04
• Subjects: tropical paediatrics -- respiratory -- epidemiology; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2018-000409
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-9772

Abstract

Abstract : Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of under-five mortality globally. In Kenya, the reported prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in single-centre studies has varied widely. Our study sought to determine the prevalence of RSV infection in children admitted with ARI fulfilling the WHO criteria for bronchiolitis. This was a prospective cross-sectional prevalence study in five hospitals across central and highland Kenya from April to June 2015. Two hundred and thirty-four participants were enrolled. The overall RSV positive rate was 8.1%, which is lower than in previous Kenyan studies. RSV-positive cases were on average 5 months younger than RSV-negative cases.