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Incidence and clinical characteristics of the infection by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus in children admitted in Santa Casa de São Paulo Hospital

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of infections due to RSV and other viruses in children. In addition we have analyzed demographic data and clinical characteristics of the RSV-positive patients comparing with patients infected by other respiratory viruses. We also described the seasonality of the RSV occurrence in a hospital in São Paulo. Children below 5 years old admitted in Santa Casa de São Paulo Hospital between February 2005 and September 2006 due to acute respiratory infections (ARI) were included. A nasopharyngeal specimens were obtained with sterile No. 5 French feeding catheters as soon as possible (usually within 24 h). Specimens were kept refrigerated at 4ºC and transported to Adolfo Lutz Institute, where the indirect immunofluorescent assay was performed. Virus identified by these assay included RSV, Adenovirus, Influenza A and B virus and Parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3. Clinical data from each group was compared. Four hundred and fifty five cases were included in the study, with 30% positive for some type of virus. Viruses that were identified included Respiratory Syncytial Virus (73.03%), Influenza (8.42%), Parainfluenza (8.42%) and Adenovirus (3.37%). We divided the subjects in 3 groups: Group 1 RSV-Positive, Group 2 Other Positive Viruses and Group 3 Negative for Respiratory Virus. Mean age (months) was of 7.5 for RSV-positive children, 7.6 for other viruses, and 8 for negative for respiratory virus. The RSV-Positive Group was significantly younger than the Group Negative for Respiratory Virus (p<0.05). Signs of UAI were more present in the Positive RSV Group (p<0.05). General mortality was of 2.41%. There was a higher incidence of RSV between the months of March and August in the two years of the study. Our study indicates RSV as the most prevalent viral agent in children admitted due to (ARI), especially in infants below 3 months old. We have also found that infections due to RSV can occur in months others than the classic seasonal period.

Children; Bronchiolitis; RSV; Respiratory infections


ORIGINAL PAPERS

Incidence and clinical characteristics of the infection by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus in children admitted in Santa Casa de São Paulo Hospital

Rogério PecchiniI; Eitan N. BerezinI; Maria C. Calahani FelícioI; Saulo D. PassosII; Maria Cândido O. de SouzaIII; Lourdes Rehder de Andrade Vaz de LimaIII; Mirthes UedaIII; Tokiko Kyomen MatsumotoIII; Edison L. DurigonIV

IPediatric Department of the Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP

IISchool of Medicine of Jundiaí, Jundiaí, SP

IIIInstitute Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP

IVInstitute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo SP; Brazil

Address for correspondence Address for correspondence: Dr. Eitan Berezin Av. Roberto Lorenz 482 Zip code: 056110 50. São Paulo SP, Brazil Phone: (55+11) 32584361. Fax: (55+11) 3331 0289 E-mail: berezin@terra.com.br

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of infections due to RSV and other viruses in children. In addition we have analyzed demographic data and clinical characteristics of the RSV-positive patients comparing with patients infected by other respiratory viruses. We also described the seasonality of the RSV occurrence in a hospital in São Paulo. Children below 5 years old admitted in Santa Casa de São Paulo Hospital between February 2005 and September 2006 due to acute respiratory infections (ARI) were included. A nasopharyngeal specimens were obtained with sterile No. 5 French feeding catheters as soon as possible (usually within 24 h). Specimens were kept refrigerated at 4ºC and transported to Adolfo Lutz Institute, where the indirect immunofluorescent assay was performed. Virus identified by these assay included RSV, Adenovirus, Influenza A and B virus and Parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3. Clinical data from each group was compared. Four hundred and fifty five cases were included in the study, with 30% positive for some type of virus. Viruses that were identified included Respiratory Syncytial Virus (73.03%), Influenza (8.42%), Parainfluenza (8.42%) and Adenovirus (3.37%). We divided the subjects in 3 groups: Group 1 RSV-Positive, Group 2 Other Positive Viruses and Group 3 Negative for Respiratory Virus. Mean age (months) was of 7.5 for RSV-positive children, 7.6 for other viruses, and 8 for negative for respiratory virus. The RSV-Positive Group was significantly younger than the Group Negative for Respiratory Virus (p<0.05). Signs of UAI were more present in the Positive RSV Group (p<0.05). General mortality was of 2.41%. There was a higher incidence of RSV between the months of March and August in the two years of the study. Our study indicates RSV as the most prevalent viral agent in children admitted due to (ARI), especially in infants below 3 months old. We have also found that infections due to RSV can occur in months others than the classic seasonal period.

Key-Words: Children, Bronchiolitis, RSV, Respiratory infections.

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide [1-3]. According to data from the World Health Organization in 2002, they account for up to 3.96 millions of deaths in that age range [3]. Two thirds of these deaths occur in children under one year old, and 90% in developing countries [1,3].

Viral infections are the most frequent etiological agents for acute respiratory infections, and are responsible for a significant morbidity and mortality in children [4]. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequent etiologic agent of Lower Respiratory Tract Illness (LRTI) [3] in infants worldwide. Influenza viruses type A and B (FLU A/B), Parainfluenza virus (PIV), Adenovirus (ADV), and human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) are other important viral etiologic agents of LRTI [4].

The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of infections due to RSV and other viruses in children. In addition, we have analyzed demographic data and clinical characteristics of the RSV-positive patients comparing with patients infected by other respiratory viruses. We also described the seasonality of the RSV occurrence in a hospital in São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Material and Methods

This prospective study was conducted from February 2005 to September 2006, at the Pediatric unit at Santa Casa de São Paulo University Hospital. This hospital is a public general hospital that localized in dowtown São Paulo.

The Internal Research Review Board from Santa Casa de São Paulo University Hospital approved this study.

During the period of study all admissions to the pediatric wards of the hospital were screened in order to determine the cause of hospitalization.

Inclusion criteria were: children age below 60 months with LRTI and symptoms duration less than 5 days. LRTI was defined by the presence of respiratory symptoms like cough, rhinorrhea, stridor, respiratory difficulty and abnormalities on physical examination including respiratory distress, wheezing or crackles. Chest roentgenogram abnormalities considered were air-trapping and alveolar infiltrates. Children with wheezing and/or signs of air-trapping on chest roentgenogram were considered to have bronchiolitis. Demographic and clinical information was recorded in standardized data.

A nasopharyngeal specimens were obtained with sterile No. 5 French feeding catheters as soon as possible (usually within 24 h). Specimens were kept refrigerated at 4ºC and transported to Adolfo Lutz Institute, where the indirect immunofluorescent assay was performed. Virus identified by these assay included RSV, Adenovirus, Influenza A and B virus and Parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3. Clinical data from each group were compared.

Statistical Analysis

Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between subjects in whom a viral etiology could be determined and those with negative viral studies. Comparisons between proportions among RSV positive, other positive viruses, and negative were performed by using the chi-square test, with Fisher's exact test with frequencies lower than five. For continuous variables, the Mann-Whitney Test was performed. A significance level was established at p=0.05.

Results

Between February 2005 and September 2006, 455 cases were included in the study, which accounted for 34.8% of the cases admitted due to ARI in our Department in the same period. The female gender proportion was 46.4%. Average age in months was 12.52 months (+ 12.76), and median age was 7.90 months. From the population included in the study, 306 cases (67.2%) were younger than 1 year old.

A viral agent was detected in 178 (30.2%) specimens. Viruses that were identified included Respiratory Syncytial Virus (73.03%), Influenza (8.42%), Parainfluenza (8.42%) and Adenovirus (3,37%). Most of the children included in the study (67.3%) were younger than 1 year of age. The number of subjects who had a virus identified according to age are shown in Figure 1.


The most frequent symptoms identified were cough in 92.3%, upper airways infection (UAI), characterized by runny nose, nasal obstruction or sneezes was found in 64.71%, and fever in 62.4% of the cases. Increase in respiratory effort and/or an increase in respiratory rate for age were present in 58% of the patients.

We divided the subjects in 3 groups: Group 1 RSV-Positive, Group 2 Other Positive Viruses and Group 3 Negative for Respiratory Virus. Tables 1 and 2 indicate demographic characteristics and clinical data, and outcome of the 3 Groups.

Figure 2 shows the distribution of the 3 Groups by month. The following proportions have been observed in the RSV positive group throughout 2005: 36.8% in March, 24.1% in April, 20% in May, 29.4% in June, 50% in July, 26.3% in August, 25% in September, 28.6% in November. In 2006: 22.7% in March, 45.6% in April, 34.7% in May, 10.2% in June, 28.1% in July, 42.8% in August, and 20% in September. In the months not mentioned there was no incidence of RSV.


The mean hospital stay in days was 10.5 (+ 15.9), and the median was 5. Within the study population, 56 (12.3%) patients were admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 11 (2.4% ) died. From the 11 deaths, 2 were included in the RSV positive group, 4 in the Other positive viruses group, and 5 in the Negative group.

Discussion

Respiratory viruses are responsible for a large proportion of respiratory infections, including LRTI. Despite their importance there have been few studies to determine the contribution of these agents to LRTI in Brazil.

RSV is the main respiratory pathogen causing LRTI in children, especially among young infants [1,6-8]. Virtually all children have been infected by RSV by 2 years of life and reinfections are common. In developed countries RSV is the major cause of LRTI in young children [4,9,10]. During this study RSV was detected in 73% of the positive samples and in 28% of all subjects included [4,9,10].

The Figure 1 indicates that RSV is most frequent in younger subjects. RSV was present in 30% of the subjects below 1 year old and in 50% of the subjects below 3 months of age. This tendency toward younger age in RSV infections has been reported in others studies [4,11-13]. Anatomic and physiologic aspects might be indicated as responsible by a greater severity and need for hospitalization in the younger age [14].

The classic clinical profile described for RSV infection is characterized by the impairment of the upper airways, with a light-colored nasal secretion, moderate cough, and low hyperthermia, followed by the impairment of the lower airways [19,20]. All children included in this study had signs of impairment in the lower airways. UAI symptoms and fever were more present in the RSV Positive Group, when compared to the Other Positive Viruses Group, or the Negative Group, Durani et al. [21] concluded that cough, and retractions are predictive signals of RSV infection in young infants when studying the clinical signs of the respiratory infection by RSV in 197 children below 36 months.

RSV seasonality found in this study, indicating a large incidence between the months of March and August in both years, is an acknowledged epidemiological aspect. The larger RSV incidence occurs during the colder months of the year, which agrees with studies performed in the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro [7,24,25]. The same results have been found in Latin American countries, such as Argentina and Uruguay [14,26]. In Northeastern Brazilian cities, such as Salvador, Bahia state, the incidence of RSV is larger in the rainy period [11].

In our study we have found subjects with RSV infection in November 2005 (28.57%), which is not a part of the season period described. Bosso et al. [12] (2004) have also found an incidence peak of RSV outside the seasonal period in a study performed in Botucatu, São Paulo state, when evaluating the incidence of that virus in children below 2 years old.

Prophylaxis for RSV infection currently available performed with palivizumabe is shown to be effective, but is indicated for children considered as in risk of developing more severe infections due to the virus (premature infants and infants with chronic pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases), and must be administered for a month before the larger incidence period [27]. Our casuistics show an incidence peak out of the characteristic seasonal period, thus showing the need to observe more series of cases further in order to know whether that fact has occurred independently.

Prophylaxis for RSV with palivizumabe is show to be efficient in decreasing the need for hospital stay, as well as the need for oxygen in risk populations, characterized by prematurity, bronchodysplasia patients, congenital cardiopathies for pulmonary hyperflow and immunodeficiencies [28]. Studies on the costs of the application of human monoclonal immunoglobulin in prophylaxis have been made, as the one from Rodriguez et al. [29], in Argentina, showing that despite the high cost, prophylaxis is efficient in decreasing the hospital admission rates in high risk populations.

Mortality rates related to infections by RSV are indicated as less than 1% in healthy children population [22]. A study performed with hospital admitted children below 2 years old, in the rural region of Asia, has indicated a mortality rate related to RSV of 1.9% [30]. In our casuistic, death rate was of 2.41%, with 1.53% in RSV Positive Group, 8.33% in the Other Positive Virus Group, and 1.80% in the Negative Group. In the RSV Positive Group, two deaths occurred to children below two months old. This data point to a greater severity in the infection caused by RSV in young infants, in chronic pulmonary disease, congenital cardiac disease, premature infants and children with immunodeficiency [31,32].

Our study indicates RSV as the most prevalent viral agent in children admitted due to ARI, especially in infants below 3 months old. We have also found that infections due to RSV can occur in months others than the classic seasonal period.

Received on 27 May 2008; revised 29 October 2008.

Financial Source: FAPESP, with Santa Casa de São Paulo being a participant of the VGDN (Viral Genetic Diversity Network) project.

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  • Address for correspondence:

    Dr. Eitan Berezin
    Av. Roberto Lorenz 482
    Zip code: 056110 50. São Paulo SP, Brazil
    Phone: (55+11) 32584361. Fax: (55+11) 3331 0289
    E-mail:
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      10 Mar 2009
    • Date of issue
      Dec 2008

    History

    • Accepted
      29 Oct 2008
    • Received
      27 May 2008
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