[Respiratory tract infection and respiratory syncytial virus in young infants]

Abstract

We investigated the role of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in respiratory tract infections of up-to-3-months old infants. This prospective study was carried out from April 1993 to March 1994. Detection of RSV antigen in nasopharyngeal specimens was done by enzyme immunoassay using TESTPACK RSV at our out patient clinic. During this study period, 65 young infants with respiratory tract infection visited our clinic. Seventeen patients (26%) were diagnosed as having RSV infection. Fifteen out of the 17 infants with RSV infection were observed in spring and winter. Fourteen out of the 17 infants with RSV infection had acute bronchiolitis or pneumonia. In contrast to RSV infection, only three patients out of the 48 infants with non-RSV infection had lower respiratory tract infection. In conclusion, the majority of young infants infected with RSV suffered from bronchiolitis or pneumonia.