Respiratory syncytial virus infection and recurrent wheeze/asthma in children under five years: An epidemiological survey

Abstract

AIM: To determine the rates of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children under 5 years of age with recurrent wheeze or asthma and compare their clinical presentation, course and outcome with asthmatic children of the same age who did not have RSV. METHODS: Children were recruited prospectively from the emergency department of the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne during peak RSV season in 1998. Information was collected regarding past and current asthma presentations, a nasopharyngeal asprirate was taken for viral isolation and all children were reviewed by telephone 1 week following presentation. RESULTS: 73 children were included with a median age of 28 months. RSV was iso..