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Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Ppublish 24 citations

PubMed: 38622776 DOI: 10.1111/irv.13282

RSV Disease Burden in Primary Care in Italy: A Multi-Region Pediatric Study, Winter Season 2022-2023.

Influenza Other Respir Viruses 18(4):e13282

Authors: Michela Scarpaci, Sara Bracaloni, Enrica Esposito, Luigi De Angelis, Francesco Baglivo, Beatrice Casini, Donatella Panatto, Matilde Ogliastro, Daniela Loconsole, Maria Chironna, Elena Pariani, Laura Pellegrinelli, Elisabetta Pandolfi, Ileana Croci, Caterina Rizzo

Affiliations

  • Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
  • Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
  • Hygiene Section, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari "A. Moro", Bari, Italy.
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
  • Predictive and Preventive Medicine Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most frequent causes of respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age, but its socioeconomic impact and burden in primary care settings is still little studied.

METHODS

During the 2022/2023 winter season, 55 pediatricians from five Italian regions participated in our community-based study. They collected a nasal swab for RSV molecular test from 650 patients under the age of 5 with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and performed a baseline questionnaire. The clinical and socioeconomic burden of RSV disease in primary care was evaluated by two follow-up questionnaires completed by the parents of positive children on Days 14 and 30.

RESULTS

RSV laboratory-confirmed cases were 37.8% of the total recruited ARI cases, with RSV subtype B accounting for the majority (65.4%) of RSV-positive swabs. RSV-positive children were younger than RSV-negative ones (median 12.5 vs. 16.5 months). The mean duration of symptoms for all children infected by RSV was 11.47 ± 6.27 days. We did not observe substantial differences in clinical severity between the two RSV subtypes, but RSV-A positive patients required more additional pediatric examinations than RSV-B cases. The socioeconomic impact of RSV infection was considerable, causing 53% of children to be absent from school, 46% of parents to lose working days, and 25% of families to incur extra costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings describe a baseline of the RSV disease burden in primary care in Italy before the introduction of upcoming immunization strategies.

MeSH

Respiratory Syncytial Viruses, Multiple Chronic Conditions, Respiratory Tract Infections, Influenza, Human, Cost Of Illness, Infections, Child

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