Indian J Public Health. 2025 Jul 1;69(3):309-312. doi: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_1458_23. Epub 2025 Oct 4.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children under 5 years, but data on its epidemiology in this region are limited.
OBJECTIVES: We studied the burden and seasonality of RSV among hospitalized children aged <5 years in Kashmir, Northern India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal secretions were collected from children <5 years of age hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infections and were tested for RSV A and B using multiplex RT-polymerase chain reaction. Demographic and seasonal details were recorded.
RESULTS: The overall positivity of RSV was 31.8%, with RSV A accounting for 30.3% and RSV B for 1.5%. The positivity was significantly higher in children <1 year of age (41.8%), in those from urban areas (43.8%), and in the winter season (46.77%).
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated higher RSV-associated infections among hospitalized children (<5 years) in this region.
PMID:41045533 | DOI:10.4103/ijph.ijph_1458_23
