Premium
Rates and risk factors of severe respiratory syncytial virus infection in 2008‐2016 compared with 1986‐1998
Author(s) -
Hamrin Johan,
Bennet Rutger,
Berner Jonas,
RotzénÖstlund Maria,
Eriksson Margareta
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.15575
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , comorbidity , population , pneumovirus , respiratory system , retrospective cohort study , intensive care , hospital admission , pneumovirinae , virus , intensive care medicine , viral disease , immunology , paramyxoviridae , environmental health
Aim Since the introduction in 1979 of rapid testing using immunofluorescence, we have collected information about children hospitalised for confirmed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in the northern Stockholm area. We here report hospitalisation rates, risk factors and complications in 2008‐2016 compared with 1986‐1998. Methods Microbiological laboratory reports and retrospective chart review. Comparison of the two periods was complicated by changing testing routines, with a more sensitive method and increased testing of older children in the late period. Results In infants, there was an 12.3% increase in the population‐based rate of hospital admission for RSV infection from 12.2 to 13.7/1000. Including all children <5 years, there was a 48% increase from 2.7 to 4.0/1000. The median length of stay remained unchanged at 3 days. The need of intensive care decreased in healthy infants but remained high in older children with comorbidity. Conclusion Considering the changed diagnosis routines, we believe that the rate of hospital admission of infants for RSV infection was unchanged throughout the observed years. The increased rates of older children with confirmed RSV likely resulted from increased testing of children with risk factors for a complicated course.