A SURVEY OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS IN CHILDREN IN THREE EDUCATIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC PEDIATRIC CENTERS IN TEHRAN

Nasopharyngeal swab samples from patients with an acute flu-like illness were evaluated for the presence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from October 1996 to March 1998. The relative frequency and seasonal distribution of RSV was assessed. In addition, the virus correlated with specific clinical signs and symptoms. During the study, 268 samples were collected from children under the age of 14 years in Virus Transport Medium (VTM) in three educational and therapeutic pediatric centers in Tehran by participating medical practitioners. The specimens were tested for RSV by virus isolation and direct immunofluorescense (DIF) technique in the virology section of Pasteur Institute of Iran. Respiratory syncytial virus was detected from 33 samples (12.3%). In this study the highest rate of RSV was found in children less than 1 year of age (19.5%), but the male to female ratio in patients was approximately equal (1: 1). RSV infections peaked in the early winter, as 85% were detected from December to March. There was a statistically significant difference between age and RSV infection (pO.05). One of the most common clinical signs and symptoms in patients was bronchiolitis, which was observed in 48.5% of subjects infected with RSV.