An investigation of risk factors associated with respiratory syncytial virus infection in a sample of infants and young children from baghdad

Abstract

Background: Human Respiratory Syncytial virus (hRSV) is one of the major causes of viral respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. Aim of study:  The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with hRSV infection. Objective: This study included 100 hospitalized infants and young children with chest infection (39 female and 61 male) aged from (1) to (24) months, their mean age (6.87) months. Material and methods:  Nasopharyngeal/throat swabs specimens were collected over a three-month winter period from January to April, 2017. hRSV was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results:  The highest percentage of hRSV RNA (56.81%) was observed in the age group less than 6 months, followed by (27.27%) and (15.91%) in the age group 6-12 months and 12-24 months, respectively, which mean that (84%) of hRSV infections were under 12 months of age. Regarding the type of feeding, about (84%) of hRSV infections were positive in patients with bottle feeding which indicated that the role of breastfeeding in preventing hRSV infection and hospitalization is undisputed, Results showed that there was no significant association between these risk factors and the occurrence of hRSV infection (P˃ 0.05). Conclusion:  The hRSV-RNA is equally distributed between patients exposed and not exposed to smoking (50%).