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Respiratory syncytial virus infections in hospitalized infants: Association between viral load, virus subgroup, and disease severity
Author(s) -
Fodha Imène,
Vabret Astrid,
Ghedira Leila,
Seboui Hassen,
Chouchane Slaheddine,
Dewar John,
Gueddiche Neji,
Trabelsi Abdelhalim,
Boujaafar Noureddine,
Freymuth François
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.21026
Subject(s) - bronchiolitis , virus , medicine , viral load , virology , viral disease , disease , respiratory system , respiratory disease , severity of illness , viral culture , mechanical ventilation , immunology , lung
The relationships between host factors, virus strain, viral load, and illness severity in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)‐induced bronchiolitis are poorly defined. These relationships were evaluated prospectively in 81 previously healthy infants hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis. Disease severity was determined by the respiratory rate, the duration of hospitalization, and whether patients during their hospitalization required pediatric intensive care unit admission or mechanical ventilation. RSV typing into subgroup A and B was obtained by RT‐PCR‐hybridization assay. The nasopharyngeal RSV viral loads were measured by real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR. Disease severity correlated significantly with the presence of risk factor (estimated gestational age < 37 weeks and/or birth weight < 2,500 g) and with chronologic age ≤ 28 days at time of sample collection. The results revealed significant association between disease severity and nasopharyngeal RSV viral load. Analysis also showed that disease severity was not associated significantly with RSV subgroup. Thus, RSV disease severity is likely to be determined by an interplay between host and virus factors, including RSV load. J. Med. Virol. 79:1951–1958, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.