Risk factors and diagnostic accuracy in pediatric respiratory syncytial virus-associated acute respiratory illness: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), an enveloped single-stranded ribonucleic acid virus with two subgroups (RSV A and B), is a major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTI) in young children. This study assessed RSV incidence, risk factors, and compared diagnostic methods: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), rapid antigen test, conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and real-time PCR. Materials and Methods: A total of 104 nasopharyngeal and blood samples were collected from infants and young children with ALRTI. RSV antigen was detected using a rapid test. Real-time PCR and conventional PCR were performed on swab specimens, along with viral culture on Vero cell lines. Statistical analysis: The Chi-square test was applied; p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Of 104 samples, 65 (62.5%) were RSV positive, and 2 (1.92%) had influenza. The male: female was 1.8:1. The mean age was 10.4 ± 12.15 months; the median was 5 months. RSV peaked from October to January. Common symptoms included tachypnea (98%), fever (85%), and cough (83%). Risk factors significantly associated with RSV were overcrowding, lack of exclusive breastfeeding, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admission. Detection rates were Real-time PCR (61.5%), ELISA (56.9%), conventional PCR (46.1%), and rapid test (20%). Conclusions: The variability in diagnostic performance underscores the need for sensitive and specific molecular assays for RSV detection.