Browsing by Author "Robertson, S. E."

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    Respiratory syncytial virus infection: denominator-based studies in Indonesia, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa
    (2004) Robertson, S. E.; Roca, A.; Alonso, P.; Simoes, E. A. F.; Kartasasmita, C. B.; Olaleye, D. O.; Odaibo, G. N.; Collinson, M.; Venter, M.; Zhu, Y.; Wright, P. F.
    OBJECTIVE:To assess the burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated lower respiratory infections (LRI) in children in four developing countries.METHODS:A WHO protocol for prospective population-based surveillance of acute respiratory infections in children aged less than 5 years was used at sites in Indonesia, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa. RSV antigen was identified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed on nasopharyngeal specimens from children meeting clinical case definitions.FINDINGS:Among children aged < 5 years, the incidence of RSV-associated LRI per 1000 child-years was 34 in Indonesia and 94 in Nigeria. The incidence of RSV-associated severe LRI per 1000 child-years was 5 in Mozambique, 10 in Indonesia, and 9 in South Africa. At all study sites, the majority of RSV cases occurred in infants.CONCLUSION:These studies demonstrate that RSV contributes to a substantial but quite variable burden of LRI in children aged < 5 years in four developing countries. The possible explanations for this variation include social factors, such as family size and patterns of seeking health care; the proportion of children infected by human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV); and differences in clinical definitions used for obtaining samples. The age distribution of cases indicates the need for an RSV vaccine that can protect children early in life.