31-Dec-2023 12:00 AM
96395
Somu S1*, Chandy S2, Amperayani S3, Senthilnathan S4, Hemalatha R5
Background: Respiratory syncytial virus causes severe respiratory infections necessitating hospitalisation in infants and young children. Multiplex PCR enables rapid and concurrent detection of multiple viruses.
Methods: We prospectively enrolled the subjects with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) and taken naso pharyngeal sample for the assessment of causative pathogens. We collected the demographic and clinical symptoms and other causative factors associated with current illness.
Results: This study on 101 paediatric ARTI highlights the susceptibility of children up to 1 year, to RSV. RSV A/B was the most common (25.7%) pathogen and RSV co-infections were evidenced in 9.9% of cases. Oxygen support and days of hospitalisation were higher in RSV mono infections. A smoker in the household was a risk factor for RSV. Emerging respiratory pathogens, metapneumovirus and human bocavirus were detected.
Conclusion: RSV causes significant ARTI in children between 6 months to 1 year possibly due to waning of maternal neutralizing RSV antibodies. A childhood vaccine for RSV is the need of the hour.
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