Impact of meteorological factors on lower respiratory tract infections in children

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate retrospectively the relationship between meteorological factors in Shenmu County, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province, China and the incidence of lower respiratory tract infections in children.MethodsMeteorological data (air temperature, atmospheric pressure, rainfall, hours of sunlight, wind speed and relative humidity) for Shenmu County and medical data from hospitalized patients aged ≤16 years were collected between January 2009 and December 2012. The association between meteorological factors and rate of hospitalization due to lower respiratory tract infections was investigated; the total hospitalization rate was compared with the rate of lower respiratory tract disease-related hospitalizations.ResultsThe leading bacterial causes of lower respiratory tract infections were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type B; the main viral cause was respiratory syncytial virus. Lower respiratory tract infection hospitalization rate was significantly correlated with air temperature (R = −0.651), atmospheric pressure (R = 0.560), rainfall (R = −0.614) and relative humidity (R = −0.470), but not with hours of sunlight (R = −0.210) or wind speed (R = 0.258). Using multiple linear regression, lower respiratory tract infection hospitalization rate decreased with a gradual increase in air temperature (F = 38.30) and relative humidity (F = 15.58).ConclusionAir temperature and relative humidity were major influencing meteorological factors for hospital admissions in children due to lower respiratory tract infections.

Meteorological factors affecting respiratory syncytial virus infection: A time‐series analysis

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“…16,18,21 However, some studies undertaken in tropical and subtropical areas have found a positive association with relative humidity, 12,22,23 while others have found a negative association. 11,20,24 Based on the LASSO model, we found that the RSV detection rate was higher when average relative humidity was low. The incidence of LRTIs has also been shown to be associated with rainfall.…”

Applicability of the universal thermal climate index for predicting the outbreaks of respiratory tract infections: a mathematical modeling approach

“…The increased interest of researchers in biometeorological conditions for RTI occurrences includes not only outdoor air temperatures (maximum, minimum, mean), but also wind speed, air humidity, and other meteorological parameters (Liu et al 2016). Biometeorology employs various methods and indices as well as mathematical models to determine relationships between meteorological parameters and human health (Epstein and Moran 2006;Lowe et al 2018).…”

Impact of Weather on Prevalence of Febrile Seizures in Children

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“…There were studies that described correlation between meteorological factors and viral infections. One study concluded that air temperature and relative humidity were major influencing meteorological factors for respiratory tract infections 5) . Since respiratory viral in fections are one of the triggering factors of FS, there would be an association between weather and incidence of FS.…”