Erika Uusitupa1, Matti Waris2,3, Terho Heikkinen1,4. 1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. 2. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. 3. Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are scarce data on whether viral load affects the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in outpatient children. METHODS: We analyzed the association between viral load and disease severity among children who participated in a prospective cohort study of respiratory infections. The children were examined and nasal swabs for the detection of RSV were obtained during each respiratory illness. Quantification of RSV load was based on the cycle threshold (Ct) value. For the primary analysis, the children were divided into 2 groups: higher (Ct < 27) and lower viral load (Ct ≥ 27). RESULTS: Among 201 episodes of RSV infection, children with higher viral load had significantly longer median durations of rhinitis (8 vs 6 days; P = .0008), cough (8 vs 6 days; P = .034), fever (2 vs 1 days; P = .018), and any symptom (10 vs 8 days; P = .024) than those with lower viral load. There were statistically significant negative correlations between the Ct values and durations of all measured symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the concept that viral load drives the severity of RSV disease in children. Reducing the viral load by RSV antivirals might provide substantial benefits to outpatient children.
BACKGROUND: There are scarce data on whether viral load affects the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in outpatientchildren. METHODS: We analyzed the association between viral load and disease severity among children who participated in a prospective cohort study of respiratory infections. The children were examined and nasal swabs for the detection of RSV were obtained during each respiratory illness. Quantification of RSV load was based on the cycle threshold (Ct) value. For the primary analysis, the children were divided into 2 groups: higher (Ct < 27) and lower viral load (Ct ≥ 27). RESULTS: Among 201 episodes of RSV infection, children with higher viral load had significantly longer median durations of rhinitis (8 vs 6 days; P = .0008), cough (8 vs 6 days; P = .034), fever (2 vs 1 days; P = .018), and any symptom (10 vs 8 days; P = .024) than those with lower viral load. There were statistically significant negative correlations between the Ct values and durations of all measured symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the concept that viral load drives the severity of RSV disease in children. Reducing the viral load by RSV antivirals might provide substantial benefits to outpatientchildren.
Authors: Mari D Takashima; Keith Grimwood; Peter D Sly; Stephen B Lambert; Keith J Chappell; Daniel Watterson; Robert S Ware Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2021-02-25 Impact factor: 3.183
Authors: Victor K Outlaw; Ross W Cheloha; Eric M Jurgens; Francesca T Bovier; Yun Zhu; Dale F Kreitler; Olivia Harder; Stefan Niewiesk; Matteo Porotto; Samuel H Gellman; Anne Moscona Journal: J Am Chem Soc Date: 2021-04-07 Impact factor: 15.419
Authors: Katrin Hartmann; Johannes G Liese; Daniel Kemmling; Christiane Prifert; Benedikt Weißbrich; Pushpike Thilakarathne; Joris Diels; Karin Weber; Andrea Streng Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2022-08-26 Impact factor: 7.759
Authors: Sébastien A Felt; Yan Sun; Agnieszka Jozwik; Allan Paras; Maximillian S Habibi; David Nickle; Larry Anderson; Emna Achouri; Kristen A Feemster; Ana María Cárdenas; Kedir N Turi; Meiping Chang; Tina V Hartert; Shaon Sengupta; Christopher Chiu; Carolina B López Journal: Nat Microbiol Date: 2021-04-01 Impact factor: 30.964