Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of RSV patients classified by WHO LRTI.

From: Gene signature of children with severe respiratory syncytial virus infection

Characteristics

Mild RSV (n = 29)

Severe RSV (n = 8)

P valuea

Sex

  Female

13 (44.8)

5 (62.5)

 

  Male

16 (55.2)

3 (37.5)

0.447

 Age in months, median [IQR]

12 (3–17)

18 (13–30)

0.364

  0 to <12 months

16 (55.2)

2 (25.0)

 

  12 to <24 months

10 (34.5)

3 (37.5)

 

  24 to <36 months

2 (6.9)

1 (12.5)

 

  36 to <60 months

1 (3.4)

2 (25.0)

 

Axillary temperature

  <38 °C

15 (51.7)

4 (50.0)

 

  ≥38 °C

14 (48.3)

4 (50.0)

1.000

Wheeze

  No

20 (69.0)

4 (50.0)

 

  Yes

9 (31.0)

4 (50.0)

0.413

Retractions

  No

27 (93.1)

3 (37.5)

 

  Yes

2 (6.9)

5 (62.5)

0.002

Rales

  No

13 (44.8)

2 (25.0)

 

  Yes

16 (55.2)

6 (75.0)

0.431

Decreased breath sounds

  No

29 (100.0)

6 (75.0)

 

  Yes

0 (0.0)

2 (25.0)

0.042

Accessory muscle utilization

  No

28 (96.6)

6 (75.0)

 

  Yes

1 (3.4)

2 (25.0)

0.112

Tachypneab

  No

22 (81.5)

3 (37.5)

 

  Yes

5 (18.5)

5 (62.5)

0.027

Tachycardiac

  No

20 (54.2)

5 (62.5)

 

  Yes

6 (45.8)

3 (37.5)

0.649

SpO2 %, median [IQR]

96 [95–97]

93 [90–95]

0.020

SpO2 < 93%

   

 No

29 (100.0)

4 (50.0)

 

 Yes

0 (0.0)

4 (50.0)

0.001

SpO2 < 90%

  No

29 (100.0)

6 (75.0)

 

  Yes

0 (0.0)

2 (25.0)

0.042

Oxygen administration

  No

16 (55.2)

3 (37.5)

 

  Yes

13 (44.8)

5 (62.5)

0.447

Duration of O2 administration, h

0 [0–33]

37 [0–108]

0.190

Length of hospitalization, days

4 (2–6)

6 (5–8)

0.220

Complete blood count results

  Red blood cells, 106/μL

4.5 [4.3–4.9]

4.5 [4.3–4.7]

0.644

  Hemoglobin, g/dL

11.5 [11.0–12.3]

11.3 [11.0–12.0]

0.956

  Hematocrit, %

35.0 [32.1–37.0]

34.4 [33.7–35.8]

0.883

  White blood cells, 103/μL

9.4 [7.4–12.3]

10.8 [10.1–13.2]

0.086

  Neutrophils, %

34.0 [25.3–42.5]

60.5 [48.5–68.8]

0.001

  Lymphocytes, %

56.7 [46.6–60.6]

30.2 [24.1–42.7]

0.001

  Monocytes, %

8.9 [7.5–10.9]

7.5 [6.8–8.0]

0.035

  Platelets, 104/μL

33.3 [28.3–42.6]

32.5 [24.1–34.8]

0.356

Chest X-ray findings

  Bronchial wall thickening

    No

27 (93.1)

8 (100.0)

 

    Yes

2 (6.9)

0 (0.0)

1.000

 Atelectasis

   No

29 (100.0)

7 (87.5)

 

   Yes

0 (0.0)

1 (12.5)

0.216

 Consolidation

   No

15 (51.7)

2 (25.0)

 

   Yes

14 (48.3)

6 (75.0)

0.246

 Infiltration

   No

25 (61.5)

7 (87.5)

 

   Yes

4 (38.5)

1 (12.5)

1.000

 Negative finding

   No

20 (69.0)

8 (100.0)

 

   Yes

9 (31.0)

0 (0.0)

0.159

RSV subgroup A

  No

10 (34.5)

2 (25.0)

 

  Yes

19 (65.5)

6 (75.0)

1.000

WHO LRTI classification

  RTI

22 (75.9)

0 (0.0)

 

  LRTI

7 (24.1)

0 (0.0)

 

  Severe LRTI

0 (0.0)

4 (50.0)

 

  Very severe LRTI

0 (0.0)

4 (50.0)

<0.001

  1. Values reported are median [interquartile range, IQR] or n (%). RTI respiratory tract illness, LRTI lower respiratory tract illness.
  2. aP values were calculated by comparing mild and severe RSV groups using Fisher’s exact text for categorical variables and Mann–Whitney test for continuous variables. P values < 0.05 are considered statistically significant.
  3. bTachypnea is defined as respiratory rate of ≥60 breaths/min in children <2 months, ≥50 breaths/min in children 2–11 months, and ≥40 breaths/min in children ≥12 months.
  4. cTachycardia is defined as heart rate of ≥180 beats/min in children <12 months and ≥140 beats/min in children ≥12 months.
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