Association between respiratory syncytial virus outbreaks and lower respiratory tract deaths of infants and young children.

The temporal patterns of respiratory virus isolations from 10 laboratories in the USA were compared with that of deaths of children less than 5 years old from July 1975 through June 1984. Isolations of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) occurred as yearly winter outbreaks; parainfluenza virus 1 and 2 isolations occurred as well-defined outbreaks every other year in the autumn; parainfluenza virus 3 isolations occurred throughout the year with periodic, increased isolations suggestive of outbreaks; and influenza virus isolations (A, B, or A plus B) occurred as yearly winter outbreaks. After data were controlled for seasonal patterns, RSV isolations were strongly correlated with the winter peaks in lower respiratory tract illness (LRI) deaths of infants 1-11 months old; influenza virus isolations were correlated with the winter peak in LRI deaths of children 24-59 months old. The parainfluenza viruses were not correlated with respiratory deaths. This study supports the idea that RSV is a major contributor to winter peaks in LRI deaths of children 1-11 months old.