Lise Beier Havdal1, Håkon Bøås2, Terese Bekkevold2, Anne-Marte Bakken Kran3, Astrid Elisabeth Rojahn4, Ketil Størdal5, Sara Debes6, Henrik Døllner7, Svein Arne Nordbø8, Bjørn Barstad9, Elisebet Haarr10, Liliana Vázquez Fernández2, Britt Nakstad11, Christopher Inchley12, Elmira Flem2. 1. Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Postboks 1000, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO BOX 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: l.b.havdal@medisin.uio.no. 2. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO BOX 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway. 3. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO BOX 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway; Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Postboks 4950 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. 4. Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Postboks, 4950 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. 5. Department of Paediatrics, Østfold Hospital, Kalnes, Postboks 300, 1714 Grålum, Norway; Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. 6. Department of Medical Microbiology, Østfold Hospital, Kalnes, Postboks 300, 1714 Grålum, Norway. 7. Department of Paediatrics, St. Olavs University Hospital, Postboks 3250 Torgarden, 7006 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway. 8. Department of Medical Microbiology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Postboks 3250 Torgarden, 7006 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway. 9. Department of Paediatric and adolescent Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Postboks 8100, 4068 Stavanger, Norway. 10. Department of Medical Microbiology, Stavanger University Hospital, Postboks 8100, 4068 Stavanger, Norway. 11. Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Postboks 1000, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway; Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. 12. Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Postboks 1000, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To estimate age-specific incidence of medically attended respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in hospitalised Norwegian children and describe disease epidemiology. METHODS: Active prospective hospital surveillance for RSV in children <59 months of age was conducted during 2015-2018. All febrile children 12-59 months of age were enrolled, whereas children <12 months were enrolled based on respiratory symptoms regardless of fever. Surveillance data were linked to national registry data to estimate the clinical burden of RSV. RESULTS: Of the children enrolled, 1096 (40%) were infected with RSV. The highest incidence rates were found in children 1 month of age, with a peak incidence of 43 per 1000 during the 2016-2017 season. In comparison, children 24-59 months of age had an infection rate of 1.4 per 1000 during the same winter season. The peak season was during the 2016-2017 winter, with an incidence rate of 6.0 per 1000 children 0-59 months of age. In the study population a total of 168 (15%) of the infected children had pre-existing medical conditions predisposing for more severe disease. High infection rates were found in this population. CONCLUSIONS: Children with comorbidities showed high hospital contact rates, but the majority of children in need of medical attention associated with RSV infection were previously healthy.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate age-specific incidence of medically attended respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in hospitalised Norwegian children and describe disease epidemiology. METHODS: Active prospective hospital surveillance for RSV in children <59 months of age was conducted during 2015-2018. All febrile children 12-59 months of age were enrolled, whereas children <12 months were enrolled based on respiratory symptoms regardless of fever. Surveillance data were linked to national registry data to estimate the clinical burden of RSV. RESULTS: Of the children enrolled, 1096 (40%) were infected with RSV. The highest incidence rates were found in children 1 month of age, with a peak incidence of 43 per 1000 during the 2016-2017 season. In comparison, children 24-59 months of age had an infection rate of 1.4 per 1000 during the same winter season. The peak season was during the 2016-2017 winter, with an incidence rate of 6.0 per 1000 children 0-59 months of age. In the study population a total of 168 (15%) of the infected children had pre-existing medical conditions predisposing for more severe disease. High infection rates were found in this population. CONCLUSIONS: Children with comorbidities showed high hospital contact rates, but the majority of children in need of medical attention associated with RSV infection were previously healthy.