Weber M W, Dackour R, Usen S, Schneider G, Adegbola R A, Cane P, Jaffar S, Milligan P, Greenwood B M, Whittle H, Mulholland E K
Medical Research Council Laboratories, Fajara, The Gambia.
Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1998 Mar;17(3):224-30. doi: 10.1097/00006454-199803000-00010.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a well-recognized cause of lower respiratory tract infections in early childhood in industrialized countries, but less is known about RSV infection in developing countries.
Four outbreaks of RSV infection that occurred between 1993 and 1996 in The Gambia, West Africa, were studied. RSV was sought by immunofluorescent staining of nasopharyngeal aspirate samples among young children who presented with respiratory infections at three hospitals in the Western Region of the country.
Five hundred seventy-four children with RSV infection were identified. The median ages of children seen in 1993 through 1996 were 3, 7, 8 and 5 months, respectively. Sixty-two percent of children <6 months old were boys. Thirteen children (2.4%) had conditions considered to increase the risk of severe RSV infection. On physical examination crepitations were heard in 80% of the children admitted to hospital, whereas wheezes were heard in only 39%. Eighty (16%) children received oxygen because of hypoxemia. Nine of 255 blood cultures (3.5%) were positive: 4 Streptococcus pneumoniae; 2 Haemophilus influenzae type b; 2 Staphylococcus aureus; and 1 Enterobacter agglomerans. Thirteen children died (2.4%). During the 4 study years 90, 25, 75 and 95% of isolates typed were RSV Subgroup A, respectively.
RSV is a significant cause of lower respiratory tract infection in young children in The Gambia, causing epidemics of bronchiolitis. It poses a significant burden on the health system, especially through the demand for supplementary oxygen. The clinical spectrum of RSV disease in The Gambia is similar to that seen in developed countries; concomitant bacterial infections are uncommon.
呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV）是工业化国家幼儿下呼吸道感染的常见病因，但在发展中国家，关于RSV感染的情况了解较少。
对1993年至1996年在西非冈比亚发生的4起RSV感染暴发进行了研究。在该国西部地区的3家医院，对出现呼吸道感染的幼儿鼻咽抽吸物样本进行免疫荧光染色，以查找RSV。
共识别出574例RSV感染患儿。1993年至1996年期间就诊患儿的中位年龄分别为3、7、8和5个月。6个月以下的患儿中，62%为男孩。13名患儿（2.4%）存在被认为会增加严重RSV感染风险的状况。体格检查时，80%入院患儿可闻及捻发音，而仅有39%可闻及哮鸣音。80名（16%）患儿因低氧血症接受吸氧治疗。255份血培养中有9份（3.5%）呈阳性：4份为肺炎链球菌；2份为b型流感嗜血杆菌；2份为金黄色葡萄球菌；1份为聚团肠杆菌。13名患儿死亡（2.4%）。在4个研究年度中，分别有90%、25%、75%和95%的分型毒株为RSV A亚组。
RSV是冈比亚幼儿下呼吸道感染的重要病因，可引发毛细支气管炎流行。它给卫生系统带来了巨大负担，尤其是对补充氧气的需求。冈比亚RSV疾病的临床谱与发达国家相似；合并细菌感染并不常见。
