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Survey of hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus in Nagano, Japan
Author(s) -
Yanagisawa Toshimitsu,
Nakamura Tomohiko
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.13638
Subject(s) - palivizumab , medicine , pediatrics , gestational age , outbreak , respiratory system , telephone survey , virology , pregnancy , marketing , biology , business , genetics
Abstract Background Respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV ) infection is one of the major causes of hospitalization of children during the winter months in Nagano, Japan. This investigation was conducted to understand the details of hospitalized patients infected with RSV in Nagano. Methods The study used a questionnaire to survey hospitals who treated children for RSV infection in the pediatric wards of 11 major hospitals in Nagano. Results Between April 2016 and March 2017, 438 patients were hospitalized with RSV infection in the 11 participating hospitals. The mean gestational age at birth was 38 weeks 2 days. Average birthweight was 2,834 g. The ratio of hospitalized patients with RSV infection to the total number of hospitalized patients was, on average, 7.0% in the second‐level hospitals. Despite the use of prophylactic palivizumab, six patients were hospitalized. Conclusions The rate of hospitalization for RSV was similar across each of the second‐level hospitals in Nagano. Patients hospitalized after prophylactic palivizumab had received palivizumab only a few times during the season when infection rates were highest. Palivizumab is therefore advised prior to the outbreak initiation season.