RSV Risk Extends Beyond premature Babies, New Study Finds – Even Healthy Infants Face Serious Threat
By Dr. michael Lee, World-Today-news.com - November 21, 2023
Key Takeaways:
Premature babies and children with chronic illnesses are at heightened risk of severe illness from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
Crucially, healthy, full-term infants – notably in the first three months of life – are also vulnerable to serious bronchiolitis requiring intensive care or prolonged hospitalization.
New research identifies specific risk factors for severe RSV infection in otherwise healthy babies.
Preventive treatments are available to reduce the risk of RSV infection in infants.
Stockholm, Sweden – While long understood to pose a meaningful threat to premature infants and children with underlying health conditions, a new study reveals that even healthy babies are at considerable risk of severe illness from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The research, published in The Lancet regional Health – Europe, underscores the importance of broader preventative measures and a nuanced understanding of risk factors.
Researchers at the karolinska Institute in Sweden analyzed data from over 2.3 million children born between 2001 and 2022. The study found that 1.7% of infants were affected by RSV, with the median age of those requiring intensive care being just under two months old. Alarmingly, the majority of these hospitalized infants had no pre-existing medical conditions.
“When developing therapeutic strategies, it is significant to take into account the fact that even healthy infants can be seriously affected by the VRS,” explains Giulia Dallagiacoma, the study’s lead author, in a statement from the Karolinska Institute.
Winter Births & Sibling Exposure Increase Risk
The analysis pinpointed several factors that considerably increase an infant’s risk of severe RSV infection. Babies born during the winter months, those with siblings aged 0-3 years, and twins faced a risk approximately three times higher of contracting bronchiolitis. Infants born with a lower birth weight exhibited an even more pronounced risk – nearly four times higher.
These findings highlight the importance of understanding environmental and familial factors in RSV transmission.Close contact with young children, a common scenario in winter months, appears to significantly elevate the risk for vulnerable infants.
Chronic Conditions Remain a Major Factor
The study reaffirmed that children with pre-existing medical conditions remain a high-risk population. The risk of developing a severe form of the disease or dying from RSV was more than four times higher in these children.
Prevention is Key: Available Treatments Offer Protection
The researchers emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of risk groups to improve preventative strategies. Fortunately,two preventative treatments are currently available to reduce the risk of RSV infection in infants. Parents and caregivers should consult with their pediatricians to determine if these options are appropriate.
This study serves as a critical reminder that RSV is a serious threat to all infants,not just those with known health vulnerabilities. Increased awareness, coupled with proactive preventative measures, is essential to protecting the youngest members of our communities.
Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(25)00239-X/fulltext00239-X/fulltext)
Further Reading: https://news.ki.se/even-healthy-children-can-be-severely-affected-by-r
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