Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus in a community birth cohort of infants in the first 2 years of life

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common identified in children hospitalised with acute respiratory infections. However, less known about RSV community settings. This report describes epidemiology community, including illness episodes, healthcare burden, and risk factors Australian during first 2-years of life. A community-based, birth cohort from Brisbane, Australia, followed until their second birthday. Parents completed daily symptom illness-burden diaries. Weekly parent-collected nasal swabs were analysed for by real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. Serum RSV-neutralising antibodies assayed at age 3 years. Overall, 158 provided 11,216 swabs, which 104 RSV-positive (85 incident episodes). incidence 2 years life was 0.46 (95% CI = 0.37–0.58) episodes per child-year. Incidence increased formal childcare attendance highest autumn. Of 82 linked data, 60 (73.2%) symptomatic, 28 (34.1%) received community-based medical care, (2.4%) led to hospitalisation. Viral load higher symptomatic than asymptomatic In 72 children, RSV-specific antibody seroprevalence 94.4% Conclusion: after 6-months approximately three-quarters infections treated community.