Surveillance for respiratory syncytial virus in infants hospitalized for acute lower respiratory infection in Chile (1989 to 2000)

J Clin Microbiol. 2003 Oct;41(10):4879-82. doi: 10.1128/JCM.41.10.4879-4882.2003.

Abstract

Hospitalized infants (4,618) were studied for lower respiratory infections from 1989 through 2000 by routine immunofluorescence assay and viral isolation. The hospitalization rate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) averaged 2% per year. The fatality rate was 0.1%. Monthly RSV detection varied from 14 to 88%, and epidemics lasted 3.5 to 6 months. From 1994 high-early versus low-late epidemic patterns alternately were observed, the first influenced by a group B strain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chile / epidemiology
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Population Surveillance*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / virology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology
  • Seasons