CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS INFECTION IN CHILDREN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE

Abstract

The purpose was to study the clinical and epidemiological features of respiratory syncytial virus infection in hospitalized children the first year of life with lower respiratory tract diseases in different regions of the Russian Federation (Russia) during the 2015–2016 epidemic season.Materials and methods: in the original study data of a multicentre observational study conducted on the basis of children’s hospitals in St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Kazan, and Saratov are presented. Etiology of acute respiratory viral infections were confirmed by examination of smears from the posterior pharyngeal wall by polymerase chain reaction. The study sample included 991 child’s first year of life with lesions of the lower respiratory tract.Results. In the etiological structure of the surveyed children in the season of 2015-2016, RSVI ranged from 14% to 46,2%, an average of 33%. RSVI dominated in the Centers of St. Petersburg (38,3%), Arkhangelsk (36.2%) and Kazan (42.5 per cent).RSVI significantly more often (p<0.01) leads to the development of bronchiolitis (29.4% against 16.3% and 10.0%, with rhinovirus infection and parainfluenza, respectively. Patients with RSUI often develop pneumonia (23,5%) vs 20.6% and 20,0% with rhinovirus infection, and parainfluenza. Patients with RSVI often suffer severe forms of the disease require oxygen support (13,8%) and treatment in the departmentof intensive care (15,9%).Seasonal peaks of hospitalization due to RSVI in all Centres were recorded in December-April 2015 and 2016. Regional differences in monthly intensity of hospitalization of children with RSVI were established.Thus, the high prevalence of RSVI among children in the first year of life, especially with heavy and complicated forms of lower respiratory tract disorders requiring intensive care benefits, represents a socially important issue, which requires monitoring for effective prevention in children at risk.