Background: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) in children. We aimed to describe the clinical-epidemiological pattern and risk factors for mortality associated with RSV infection. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study of ALRI in children admitted to the Children's Hospital among 2000-2017. Viral diagnosis was made by fluorescent antibody techniques or real time-PCR. We compared clinical-epidemiological characteristics of RSV infection in non-fatal versus fatal cases. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of mortality. Results: Of a total 15,451 patients with ALRI, 13,033 were tested for respiratory viruses and 5831 (45%) were positive: RSV 81.3% (4738), influenza 7.6% (440), parainfluenza 6.9% (402) and adenovirus 4.3% (251). RSV had a seasonal epidemic pattern coinciding with months of lowest average temperature. RSV cases show a case fatality rate of 1.7% (82/4687). Fatal cases had a higher proportion of: prematurity (p<0.01), perinatal respiratory history (p<0.01), malnourishment (p<0.01), congenital heart disease (p<0.01), chronic neurological disease (p<0.01) and pneumonia at clinical presentation (p=0.014). No significant difference between genders was observed. Most deaths occurred among children who had complications: respiratory distress (80.5%), nosocomial infections (45.7%), sepsis (31.7%) and atelectasis (13.4%). Independent predictors of RSV mortality were: moderate to severe malnourishment, OR 3.69 (95% CI 1.98-6.87) p< 0.0001, chronic neurological disease, OR 4.14 (95% CI 2.12-8.08) p< 0.0001, congenital heart disease, OR 4.18 (95% CI 2.39-7.32) p< 0.0001 and the age less than 6 months, OR 1.99 (95%CI 1.24-3.18) p=0.004.
IntroductionThe high burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in young children disproportionately occurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The PROUD (Preventing RespiratOry syncytial virUs in unDerdeveloped countries) Taskforce of 24 RSV worldwide experts assessed key needs for RSV prevention in LMICs, including vaccine and newer preventive measures.MethodsA global, survey-based study was undertaken in 2021. An online questionnaire was developed following three meetings of the Taskforce panellists wherein factors related to RSV infection, its prevention and management were identified using iterative questioning. Each factor was scored, by non-panellists interested in RSV, on a scale of zero (very-low-relevance) to 100 (very-high-relevance) within two scenarios: (1) Current and (2) Future expectations for RSV management.ResultsNinety questionnaires were completed: 70 by respondents (71.4% physicians; 27.1% researchers/scientists) from 16 LMICs and 20 from nine high-income (HI) countries (90.0% physicians; 5.0% researchers/scientists), as a reference group. Within LMICs, RSV awareness was perceived to be low, and management was not prioritised. Of the 100 factors scored, those related to improved diagnosis particularly access to affordable point-of-care diagnostics, disease burden data generation, clinical and general education, prompt access to new interventions, and engagement with policymakers/payers were identified of paramount importance. There was a strong need for clinical education and local data generation in the lowest economies, whereas upper-middle income countries were more closely aligned with HI countries in terms of current RSV service provision.ConclusionSeven key actions for improving RSV prevention and management in LMICs are proposed.
Background: Influenza virus infection is an important cause of under-five mortality. Maternal vaccination protects children younger than 3 months of age from influenza infection. However, it is unknown to what extent paediatric influenza-related mortality may be prevented by a maternal vaccine since global age-stratified mortality data are lacking. Methods: We invited clinicians and researchers to share clinical and demographic characteristics from children younger than 5 years who died with laboratory-confirmed influenza infection between January 1, 1995 and March 31, 2020. We evaluated the potential impact of maternal vaccination by estimating the number of children younger than 3 months with in-hospital influenza-related death using published global mortality estimates. Findings: We included 314 children from 31 countries. Comorbidities were present in 166 (53%) children and 41 (13%) children were born prematurely. Median age at death was 8¢6 (IQR 4¢5À16¢6), 11¢5 (IQR 4¢3À24¢0), and 15¢5 (IQR 7¢4À27¢0) months for children from low-and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), uppermiddle-income countries (UMICs), and high-income countries (HICs), respectively. The proportion of children younger than 3 months at time of death was 17% in LMICs, 12% in UMICs, and 7% in HICs. We estimated that 3339 annual influenza-related in-hospital deaths occur in the first 3 months of life globally. Interpretation: In our study, less than 20% of children is younger than 3 months at time of influenza-related death. Although maternal influenza vaccination may impact maternal and infant influenza disease burden, additional immunisation strategies are needed to prevent global influenza-related childhood mortality. The missing data, global coverage, and data quality in this study should be taken into consideration for further interpretation of the results. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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