Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Prevalence and Features among Hospitalized Lebanese Children

Background: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an important cause of acute respiratory tract infections among infants and children requiring hospitalization. No data is available concerning RSV epidemiological and demographic characteristics among Lebanese children.
Methods: This is an observational comparative retrospective and prospective study including two RSV seasons from October 2012 till March 2014 conducted at Makassed General Hospital, Lebanon. RSV rapid antigen detection test (Respi-Strip) was used for detection of RSV in nasopharyngeal wash swabs collected from all children 0 to 13 years with acute respiratory symptoms admitted at our hospital. Enrolled patients were divided according to age group and Respi-Strip results. Clinical presentation, risk factors, management interventions, course in hospital and severity parameters were compared between the different groups.
Results: Among the 443 patients enrolled in the study, 98 (22.1%) were RSV positive. RSV was mostly found among younger ages (P<0.0001). Younger ages were most likely to present with moderate or severe respiratory distress (P=0.014). Patients with RSV had a more severe course during hospitalization in all parameters (P=0.0001). However, both groups received same management during their stay including bronchodilators, α-adrenergic, steroids and antibiotics despite the latest AAP guidelines.
Conclusion: Respiratory Syncytial Virus is major cause of hospitalization among Lebanese children. It has a severe course even in previously healthy children and thus, immunoprophylaxis should be highly stressed on by clinicians.