Last winter was a particularly high season for respiratory syncytial virus infections, which overwhelmed pediatric hospitals with a surge in sick infants who had difficulty breathing due to buildup of secretions in their lungs.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can be particularly dangerous for premature babies and infants with underlying medical conditions, but a study released Tuesday highlights that even healthy infants are at risk of severe illness. there is
The study was published on Tuesday JAMA network openfound that the majority of babies admitted to intensive care with RSV in late 2022 were term and previously healthy.
“This can be a serious illness in young, healthy infants,” said lead study author Natasha Halasa, M.D., professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
The virus is “very common” and most children are infected by the age of 2, but studies can be difficult to predict which babies will get sick, he said.
For this study, Harasa and a team of researchers across the country examined data from 600 infants from 39 hospitals in 27 states enrolled in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded RSV Pediatric Care Registry.
All the infants were admitted to intensive care units from October to December 2022, when the number of cases surged after the COVID-19 pandemic plummeted that year.
About 81% of the babies in the study had no underlying medical conditions, 29% were born prematurely, and most were very young, with a median age of 2.6 months. About 24% of infants had to be intubated to help them breathe. Two infants died.
Dr. Angela Campbell, principal investigator of the study in the CDC’s Division of Coronaviruses and Other Respiratory Viruses, said infants younger than 3 months and those born prematurely are more likely to require intubation. He noted that most of the intubated infants in the study were born at age 19. semester.
“Our study helps highlight the need for preventive strategies for all infants,” Campbell said.
why last season was different
According to reports, each year RSV infection causes approximately 2 million doctor visits, 80,000 hospitalizations and up to 300 deaths in children under the age of five. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Roughly one-third of the population gets RSV in any season, according to Dr. C. Anthony Lim, director of pediatric emergency medicine at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. In most healthy adults, it causes cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, cough, and headache that resolve over time. Older people and young children, especially those under 6 months of age, may be more seriously ill.
RSV tends to peak in the fall and winter and spreads rapidly in schools and nurseries. Small children are especially at risk from this virus because it can infect the lower lungs and cause pneumonia and bronchiolitis (inflammation with mucus that can block small airways).
In the early days of the pandemic, mitigation measures such as wearing masks and social distancing helped reduce cases of respiratory syncytial virus and other respiratory viruses, such as influenza, to low levels, Campbell said. In 2021 and 2022, there were some spikes during times not usually associated with RSV, such as spring.
But it wasn’t until late 2022 that the virus really hit its stride, as many young children were exposed to RSV for the first time.
Dr. Priya Soni, assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Cedars Sinai Guerin Children’s Medical Center in Los Angeles, praised the new study.
“It was a great opportunity to look at some of the factors associated with serious infections in children,” said Soni, who was not involved in the study.
Will RSV surge again this year?
Whether the 2023-2024 season will be as bad as 2022 is unclear, but a newly approved injectable monoclonal antibody called Bayfortus could reduce infant cases.
“I, [shot], above all, could have a big impact on what happens to RSV this season,” said Lim. “It could definitely be a game changer.”
The prophylactic drug, which can reduce the risk of RSV for five months, the length of an average RSV epidemic, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in July. In early August, the CDC’s Immunization Implementation Advisory Committee unanimously recommended that all newborns and infants under 8 months of age entering their first RSV season be vaccinated. A second vaccination can be given to high-risk children up to 2 years of age who are in their second season of RSV, such as severely immunocompromised patients.
The American Academy of Pediatrics on Tuesday recommended that all infants receive Beyfortas, calling for equitable access for all. The shot is expected to cost $495, but is covered by insurance coverage. The most common side effects are rash and swelling at the injection site.
Another option is in the works. In May, an FDA advisory panel recommended approval of a vaccine to be administered to pregnant women to prevent RSV in newborns. The FDA is expected to make a decision on approval this month. According to Pfizerto manufacture vaccines.
“It’s a very exciting time right now,” Soni said. “While we haven’t made much progress with RSV, we are hopeful that this new long-acting monoclonal agent will have a major impact on the coming winter season, when the burden of hospitalization for critically ill children may be less significant. I hope.” In this state, it is sick. ”
Handwashing with soap and water, avoiding close contact with sick people, encouraging children to cover their mouths when coughing, and not sharing cups and toys can also help prevent the spread of RSV. .
Two RSV vaccines for adults over the age of 60 were approved earlier this summer.to follow NBC Health upon twitter & Facebook.
