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Unlabelled: One of the major questions regarding long-term side effects of bronchiolitis by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is whether or not it induces asthma in later life. In this quantitative review, the data of 10 controlled studies are analysed.Methods: Follow-up studies of RSV bronchiolitis published between January 1978 and December 1998 were identified through a MEDLINE search. Studies were selected if (i) postnatal age at the time of the initial illness was below 12 mo, (ii) all children were hospitalized for RSV bronchiolitis, (iii) the diagnosis RSV was virologically confirmed in all cases, and (iv) a control group was used.Results: Six studies met all selection criteria. Up to 5 y of follow-up after RSV bronchiolitis in infancy, 40% of children reported wheezing as compared to only 11% in the control group (p <0.001). Between 5 and 10 y of follow-up 22% of the bronchiolitis group reported wheezing against 10% of the control group (p = 0.19). The incidence of recurrent wheezing as defined by three or more wheezing episodes also decreased with increasing years of follow-up: at 5 or more years of follow-up the difference between the RSV group and the control group was no longer significant. Furthermore, the presence of either a personal and/or a family history of either atopy and/or asthma did not differ between the two groups.Conclusions: Wheezing is common after RSV bronchiolitis in infancy. It may persist for > or = 5 y of follow-up. However, no significant difference between the RSV bronchiolitis and the control group was observed regarding recurrent wheezing by 5 y of follow-up. No significant difference between the RSV bronchiolitis and the control group were found regarding a personal history of atopy, a family history of atopy and/or asthma. Therefore it seems unlikely that RSV bronchiolitis is a cause of atopic asthma in later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: This review discusses the current knowledge on treatment and prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in children. Unfortunately, an effective therapy is not yet available. The efficacy of corticosteroids and bronchodilators has not yet been adequately documented and the use of ribavirin is only indicated in a highly selected group of high risk patients with T-cell immunodeficiency. The results of studies on the efficacy of vitamin A, interferon and antibiotics showed disappointing results. Vaccination research has produced candidate vaccines such as the recombinant vaccine BBG2Na, a subunit vaccine PFP-2 and cold-passaged-temperature sensitive vaccines. However, phase III efficacy trials in infants, young children and the elderly are still lacking. Passive protection against infections by RSV can be conferred by the use of RSV hyperimmune globulin or by the administration of palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody. However, large costs are involved. In addition, major differences have been reported in the prevalence of RSV lower respiratory tract infections in different countries, regions and even within well-known high-risk populations.Conclusion: We suggest the development of local and regional guidelines based on hospitalisation rates in high-risk infants and cost-benefit analysis studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The benefits of facilitating breastmilk feeding and close contact between mother and neonate (family-centred care; FCC) in the perinatal period are well-established. The aim of this study was to determine how the delivery of FCC practices were impacted for neonates born to mothers with perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: Neonates born to mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy were identified from the 'EsPnIC Covid paEdiatric NeonaTal REgistry' (EPICENTRE) multinational cohort between 10 March 2020 and 20 October 2021. The EPICENTRE cohort collected prospective data on FCC practices. Rooming-in and breastmilk feeding practice were the main outcomes, and factors influencing each were determined. Other outcomes included mother-baby physical contact prior to separation and the pattern of FCC components relative to time and local site guidelines., Findings: 692 mother-baby dyads (13 sites, 10 countries) were analysed. 27 (5%) neonates were positive for SARS-CoV-2 (14 (52%) asymptomatic). Most sites had policies that encouraged FCC during perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection for most of the reporting period. 311 (46%) neonates roomed-in with their mother during the admission. Rooming-in increased over time from 23% in March-June 2020 to 74% in January-March 2021 (boreal season). 330 (93%) of the 369 separated neonates had no FCC physical contact with their mother prior, and 319 (86%) were asymptomatic. Maternal breastmilk was used for feeding in 354 (53%) neonates, increasing from 23% to 70% between March-June 2020 and January-March 2021. FCC was most impacted when mothers had symptomatic COVID-19 at birth., Interpretation: This is the largest report of global FCC practice during the COVID-19 pandemic to date. The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted FCC despite low perinatal transmission rates. Fortunately, clinicians appear to have adapted to allow more FCC delivery as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed., Funding: The National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia): Grant ID 2008212 (DGT), Royal Children's Hospital Foundation: Grant ID 2019-1155 (EJP), Victorian Government Operational Infrastructure Support Program., Competing Interests: AM received an honorarium from Medtronic for one lecture in a symposium related to mechanical ventilation., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is one of the major causes of respiratory illness in infants, infecting virtually every child before the age of 2 years. Currently, several Phase 1 trials with RSV vaccines in infants are ongoing or have been completed. As yet, no efficacy estimates are available for these vaccine candidates. Nevertheless, cost-effectiveness estimates might be informative to enable preliminary positioning of an RSV vaccine., Methods: A decision analysis model was developed in which a Dutch birth cohort was followed for 12 months. A number of potential vaccination strategies were reviewed such as vaccination at specific ages, a two- or three-dosing scheme and seasonal vaccination versus year-round vaccination. The impact of the assumptions made was explored in various sensitivity analyses, including probabilistic analysis. Outcome measures included the number of GP visits, hospitalizations and deaths, costs, quality-adjusted life years and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs)., Results: Currently, without vaccination, an annual number of 28,738 of RSV-related GP visits, 1623 hospitalizations, and 4.5 deaths are estimated in children in the age of 0-1 year. The total annual cost to society of RSV in the non-vaccination scenario is €7.7 million (95%CI: 1.7-16.7) and the annual disease burden is estimated at 597 QALYs (95%CI: 133-1319). In case all infants would be offered a potentially safe and effective 3-dose RSV vaccination scheme at the age of 0, 1 and 3 months, the total annual net costs were estimated to increase to €21.2 million, but 544 hospitalizations and 1.5 deaths would be averted. The ICER was estimated at €34,142 (95%CI: € 21,652-€ 87,766) per QALY gained. A reduced dose schedule, seasonal vaccination, and consideration of out-of-pocket expenses all resulted in more favorable ICER values, whereas a reduced vaccine efficacy or a delay in the timing of vaccination resulted in less favorable ICERs., Discussion: Our model used recently updated estimates on the burden of RSV disease in children and it included plausible utilities. However, due to the absence of clinical trial data, a number of crucial assumptions had to be made related to the characteristics of potential RSV vaccine. The outcomes of our modeling exercise show that vaccination of infants against RSV might be cost-effective. However, clinical trial data are warranted., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy developed acute respiratory insufficiency caused by an upper airway obstruction, which necessitated intubation and mechanical ventilation. Cultures from throat swabs from the girl and boy yielded Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae, respectively. Diagnoses of bacterial tracheitis were confirmed by tracheoscopy and both children were treated with antibiotics. After 11 and 4 days of mechanical ventilation, respectively, they were successfully extubated. No further complications were encountered. Bacterial tracheitis is a rare but significant cause of upper airway obstruction in children.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to a ruptured saccular aneurysm is uncommon in children. Pediatric traumatic aneurysms have been reported relatively frequently, tending to bleed after an interval of weeks after head injury. The authors describe three children with acute SAH after head injury caused by intracranial dissecting aneurysms. When head trauma in children is complicated by SAH in basal cisterns, dissecting aneurysms should be considered and treated, because rebleeding may occur.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) accounts for the majority of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in infants and young children. A chest x-ray is frequently performed in infants with LRTI caused by RSV. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a prediction model to estimate the probability for a normal chest x-ray in children with RSV infection. For this purpose, easy obtainable diagnostic parameters were used. This prediction model may be applied to decide which patients do not require a chest x-ray. The data of 287 children admitted with RSV infection or diagnosed as such in the outpatient department of the Sophia Children's Hospital between 1992-1996 were studied. The derivation set comprised 232 patients (1992-1995), and the validation set contained 55 patients (1995-1996). A chest x-ray was designated as normal when atelectasis, hyperinflation, or pulmonary infiltrates were absent. In order to develop a prediction model, patient history and clinical and laboratory variables were consecutively entered into a logistic regression model according to the diagnostic workup that was practiced at the time. Variables with P < or = 0.10 were retained in the model. The predictive accuracy of the multivariable models was examined using the area under receiver operating curve (ROC-area). In 202 (87%) patients from the derivation set, a chest x-ray was performed. A normal chest x-ray could be predicted by increasing age, increasing birth weight, presence of rhinitis, absence of retractions, and increasing arterial oxygen saturation. The ROC-area was 0.80 in the derivation and validation sets. This prediction model was transformed into a score chart. In conclusion, a normal chest x-ray can accurately be predicted, using a model including easily obtainable patient characteristics, and clinical and laboratory variables. This model may be a useful tool in deciding whether or not to perform a chest x-ray in patients with RSV infections., (Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Objective: To investigate the occurrence of nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections and to compare their clinical features with those of community-acquired RSV infections., Design: Retrospective., Method: Data were collected from the medical records of children younger than 12 months with RSV infection in the Department of Pediatrics of Sophia's Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in October-March 1992/'95. The diagnosis of 'RSV infection' was confirmed by a direct immunofluorescent assay and/or a viral culture on materials obtained from nasopharyngeal washes. A nosocomial RSV infection was defined as an infection which occurred more than 5 days after hospital admission for any underlying disease., Results: During the 3 RSV seasons 1260 children were admitted. Of these 34 (2.7%) developed a nosocomial RSV infection. The number of nosocomial RSV infections decreased over the study period. At the department including the outpatient clinic 232 children were seen with a community-acquired RSV infection. Children with a nosocomial infection differed from children with a community-acquired infection only with regard to birth weight (2.5 kg versus 3.0 kg), cough (65% versus 92%) and feeding problems (100% versus 69%). Four children had bronchopulmonary dysplasia and nosocomial RSV infection; these required mechanical ventilation., Conclusion: The number of nosocomial RSV infections decreased over 3 years. The severity of nosocomial RSV infections was comparable with that of community-acquired RSV infections.