Prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] antibodies among infants and young children with acute respiratory tract infections

ABSTRACT

A consecutive study was performed during the period from November 1988 to December 1990 on 117 infants and young children with acute respiratory tract infections. Respiratory Syncytial Virus [RSV] antibodies were detected in 56.4% by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] with varying amounts of antibodies in the positive sera. The highest rates of RSV antibody were detected among age groups 13-18 and 19-24 months. There were no marked differences in RSV antibody between male and female. There was also no difference between rural or urban patients. The rates of RSV antibodies were almost the same in children with or without previous history of respiratory tract infections. The majority of patients with high titers of RSV antibodies were provisionally diagnosed as bronchopneumonia. Patients with radiological findings suggestive of respiratory infections had higher titres than those with negative X-ray findings. The majority of cases with RSV antibody were mainly detected during the cold season. There was on evidence of protection among breast-fed children