Severe respiratory syncytial virus disease in Alaska native children

Ruth A. Karron, Rosalyn J. Singleton, Lisa Bulkow, Alan Parkinson, Donn Kruse, Irma DeSmet, Carol Indorf, Kenneth M. Petersen, Donna Leombruno, Debra Hurlburt, Mathuram Santosham, Lee H. Harrison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

120 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hospitalization rates for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection range from 1 to 20/1000 infants. To determine the rate and severity of RSV infections requiring hospitalization for infants in the Yukon-Kuskokwim (YK) Delta of Alaska, a 3-year prospective surveillance study was conducted. The annual rate of RSV hospitalization for YK Delta infants <1 year of age was 53-249/1000. RSV infection was the most frequent cause of infant hospitalization. RSV disease severity did not differ among non-high-risk infants in the YK Delta and at Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH). On average, 1/125 infants born in the YK Delta required mechanical ventilation for RSV infection. During the peak season, ~$1034/child <3 years of age was spent on RSV hospitalization in the YK Delta. In YK Delta infants ≤6 months old, RSV microneutralizing antibody liters <1200 were associated with severe disease (odds ratio = 6.2, P = .03). In the YK Delta and at JHH, newborns may be at greater risk for severe RSV illness than previously thought.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)41-49
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume180
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Severe respiratory syncytial virus disease in Alaska native children'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this