RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS INFECTION OF LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT IN HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN UNDER 1 YEAR OF LIFE

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the significance of respiratory syncytial viral infection in lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children 1 year of life and its features.Materials and methods: the research was carried out from march 2015 till october 2016. We enrolled all children under 1 year with acute lower respiratory tract infections. A real-time PCR method was used to detect viruses in nasopharyngeal swabs. The levels of CRP and procalcitonin were estimated.Results: We enrolled in our research 356 children with acute lower respiratory tract infections. RS-virus was detected in 129 patients (36,2%). Single viral infection was detected in 79.9% of cases. The median age of the patients was 4 (1; 7) months. 14,7% of children with RS-infection had burdened premorbid background, 16.7% of children were premature. Severe forms of RS-infection have been detected in 26.4% children. These were the children of the first months of life, the median age was 2 (1; 4) months. RS-infection proceeded mostly in the form of bronchiolitis (62%). WBC count in pneumonia and bronchiolitis associated with RSV significantly differed (10,6 against 9,2×109 /l, p 0,028). The level of CRB was 1,8 (0,5; 6,8) mg/l, procalcitonin 0,075 (0,059; 0,104) ng/ml, there was no difference in bronchiolitis and pneumonia.Conclusions: Respiratory syncytial virus infection is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children 1 year of life. There was no increase of CRP and procalcitonin. The risk factor of severe RS- infection is early age (less than 6 months).

Keywords

• rs-virus
• lower respiratory tract infections
• children
• community-acquired pneumonia
• bronchiolitis crp
• procalcitonin