Abstract
Children in the Houston Family Study were followed from birth to determine the occurrence, consequences and immune correlates of infection and reinfection with RS and Para3 viruses. This was a unique study of children living at home; 119 were followed 1 to 5 years-a total of 339 child-years. The RS infection rate was 63 per 100 child-years ranging from about 75/100 during each of the first 2 years of life to about 40/100 for ages 3-5. One-third of infections were clinically apparent. The illness rate was highest during year 2 at 27/100 children, but lower respiratory disease (LRD) was more frequent and severe in the 1st year of life. The LRD rate was 11/100 during the 1st year-2 infants were hospitalized. With primary infection the risk of LRD was 8.6/100 child-years. The overall risk of reinfection LRD was 6.4/100 child-years; however, the rate of reinfection LRD, clinically less severe, was 13/100 during the 2nd year and then dropped sharply for older children. No child had LRD more than 1 time.
Infection and illness rates were similar for Para3 but LRD was less frequent. LRD rate was 6.9/100 with primary infection vs. 1.1/100 with reinfection.
Risk for both viruses dropped after 2 infections. Thus, multiple live virus immunizations of children > 1 year could provide substantial protection to older children and protect infants by limiting exposure. Boosting maternal immunity may aid protection for early months of life.
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Glezen, W., Frank, A. & Taper, L. 1011 RISK OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL (RS) AND PARAINFLUENZA TYPE 3 (PARA3) INFECTION IN YOUNG CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 611 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01037
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01037
