Pediatr Int. 2025 Jan-Dec;67(1):e70208. doi: 10.1111/ped.70208.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The incidence trends and disease burden of pediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in Japan have yet to be fully elucidated.
METHODS: With the cooperation of all 16 pediatric inpatient facilities in Fukushima Prefecture, we prospectively investigated the numbers of hospitalizations due to lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) caused by RSV and severe LRTIs requiring respiratory support caused by RSV and other pathogens during a 6-year period between 2014 and 19. In addition, the number of RSV infection cases at sentinel sites was obtained.
RESULTS: During the study period, there were 1117-1520 (average 1306) severe LRTI cases per year in Fukushima Prefecture, of which 23.7%-33.6% (average 30.6%) were due to RSV. The number of pediatric hospitalized patients with RSV infection ranged from 998 to 1426 per year (average 1177), and the number of RSV infection cases reported from sentinel sites in Fukushima Prefecture ranged from 2523 to 3477 per year (average 3005). A strong correlation was observed between the number of hospitalized patients and that reported from the sentinel sites. The annual incidence of RSV-related LRTIs during the same period was estimated to be 174 cases per 10,000 children aged under 5 years, with 59 severe cases.
CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that RSV infection was the leading cause of severe LRTIs in children in Fukushima Prefecture, accounting for approximately 30% of all cases. Furthermore, 1.7% of children under the age of 5 required hospitalization, highlighting the significant disease burden of RSV infection in this population.
PMID:41065347 | DOI:10.1111/ped.70208
