Chan Patrick W K, Chew F T, Tan T N, Chua K B, Hooi P S
Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002 Jul;34(1):47-51. doi: 10.1002/ppul.10095.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in young children. We determined if there was a seasonal variation in Malaysia in the incidence of RSV infection in young children admitted with LRTI, and possible associations of RSV infection with local meteorological parameters. A total of 5,691 children, aged less than 24 months and hospitalized with LRTI (i.e., bronchiolitis and pneumonia) between 1982-1997, were included in this study. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected and examined for RSV by immunofluorescence, viral culture, or both. Seasonal variations were determined by analyzing the monthly RSV-positive isolation rate via time series analysis. Possible correlations with local meteorological parameters were also evaluated.RSV was isolated in 1,047 (18.4%) children. Seasonal variations in RSV infection rate were evident and peaked during the months of November, December, and January (test statistics [T] = 53.7, P < 0.001). This seasonal variation was evident for both bronchiolitis and pneumonia categories (T = 42.8 and 56.9, respectively, P < 0.001). The rate of RSV infection appeared to correlate with the monthly number of rain days (r = 0.26, P < 0.01), and inversely with the monthly mean temperature (r = -0.38, P < 0.001). In the tropics, seasonal variations in the incidence of RSV infection are evident, with an annual peak in November, December, and January. This information provides a guide for healthcare provisions and implementation of RSV prevention.
呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV）是幼儿下呼吸道感染（LRTI）的最重要病因。我们确定了马来西亚因LRTI入院的幼儿中RSV感染发病率是否存在季节性变化，以及RSV感染与当地气象参数之间可能存在的关联。本研究纳入了1982年至1997年间共5691名年龄小于24个月且因LRTI（即细支气管炎和肺炎）住院的儿童。采集鼻咽样本，通过免疫荧光、病毒培养或两者兼用的方法检测RSV。通过时间序列分析每月的RSV阳性分离率来确定季节性变化。还评估了与当地气象参数的可能相关性。1047名（18.4%）儿童分离出了RSV。RSV感染率的季节性变化明显，在11月、12月和1月达到峰值（检验统计量[T]=53.7，P<0.001）。细支气管炎和肺炎类别均呈现出这种明显的季节性变化（T分别为42.8和56.9，P<0.001）。RSV感染率似乎与每月降雨天数相关（r=0.26，P<0.01），与月平均温度呈负相关（r=-0.38，P<0.001）。在热带地区，RSV感染发病率存在明显的季节性变化，每年11月、12月和1月达到高峰。这些信息为RSV预防的医疗服务提供和实施提供了指导。
