Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children in Wuhan, Hubei, 2019

  Objective  To understand the epidemiological characteristics and clinical characteristics of acute respiratory tract infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children in Wuhan, Hubei province, in 2019.

  Methods  The nasopharyngeal swabs of children admitted to Wuhan Children's Hospital due to acute respiratory infection in 2019 were collected. RSV positive children were detected by direct immunofluorescence method. Their clinical and epidemiological data were analyzed.

  Results  In 2019, the positive rate of RSV in children with acute respiratory infection in Wuhan was 8.41%. There was a significant difference among children in different age groups, and the detection rate of RSV decreased gradually with age. The detection rate in boys was higher than that in girls (P<0.05). The highest detection rate of RSV was during January, February, December, and the lowest was during May - July. The main clinical manifestations were cough, fever and wheezing. Some children had other complications, such as abnormal liver function, epilepsy, arrhythmia, otitis media and so on. The incidence rate of co-infection of RSV and other respiratory viruses was 2.81%, mainly parainfluenza virus type 3 and adenovirus.

  Conclusion  RSV is a common pathogen of acute respiratory tract infection in children in Wuhan. The infection mainly occurs during December - February. Younger children are more likely to be infected. The co-infection of RSV with parainfluenza virus type 3 and adenovirus is prone to occur.