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. 2024 May 15;24(1):334.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-024-04799-8.

Respiratory syncytial virus in pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary center in Amman: clinical characteristics, and age-related patterns

Montaha Al-Iede  1   2 , Abdullah Alhouri  3 , Khaled Marwa  4 , Roaa Alnajjar  5 , Mohammad Abuzenah  6 , Bilala Abu-Hussein  7 , Shereen M Aleidi  8 , Enas Al-Zayadneh  9   10 , Amirah Daher  10   11 , Basim Alqutawneh  12 , Lena Sarhan  13
Affiliations

Respiratory syncytial virus in pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary center in Amman: clinical characteristics, and age-related patterns

Montaha Al-Iede et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections, particularly in infants and young children during winter. We aimed to study the demographics and clinical characteristics of RSV infections and age-related patterns.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated pediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections conducted in Jordan from September 2021 to March 2022. Patients under the age of five who had viral polymerase chain reaction results showing RSV infection from nasopharyngeal aspiration were included. In addition, demographic information, medical history, and clinical data were gathered. These included comorbidities, outcomes, length of stay, ICU hospitalization, use of antibiotics, and oxygen supplementation.

Results: A total of 199 patients were included. Most patients were males (56.8%) and less than one year (43.7%). Children aged between 1 and 2 years presented with more shortness of breath (90.1%) than infants and children more than two years (66.7% and 87%, respectively) (p < 0.001). Older children (> 2 years) were significantly more likely to use antibiotics and have ICU admission than younger children ≤ 2 years (p = 0.045 and 0.018, respectively). There was no relationship between age groups, recurrent hospitalization, previous RSV infection, oxygen therapy, coinfection, and hospitalization duration. The respiratory rate was higher among patients with co-infection (p = 0.031).

Conclusion: The current study provides information on the demographics and clinical characteristics of RSV infections. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of RSV infections in the specified population, emphasizing age-specific variations and clinical implications for better management strategies.

Keywords: Hospitalization; Infections; Lower respiratory tract; Respiratory syncytial virus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Frequency and percentage of coinfection viruses. Human bocavirus (HBOV), Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV) 1, 3, and 4, Mycoplasma pneumonia (M. pneumoniae), Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) A and B, Human coronavirus (HCoV) NL63, OC43, 229E and HKU1, Influenza (flu) A and B. H1N1 flu, Hemophilus pneumonia (H. pneumonia)
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