Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections among Hospitalized Children in Poland during 2010-2020: Study Based on the National Hospital Registry.

Background: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for infections mainly affecting the lower respiratory tract in infants and young children after the first exposure. The aim of the study is to show up-to-date information on RSV hospitalization cases in Poland in children aged < 5 years. Methods: A retrospective, population-based study was conducted using data from hospital discharge records of patients hospitalized from 2010−2020. Results: The study group consisted of 57,552 hospitalizations of RSV children. The mean and median ages were 232 (95% CI: 230−234) and 132 (IQR 63−271) days. The mean annual hospitalization rate for patients with RSV infection was estimated to be 267.5 per 100,000, and the highest was observed in children < 1 year (1132.1 per 100,000). The mean annual hospitalization rate was significantly higher in patients living in urban than rural regions (p < 0.001). A statistically significant increase in the number of hospitalizations was observed (p < 0.0001) during the analyzed period. The seasonal pattern was found with the highest rates of hospitalizations in the January−March period. Conclusions: The increasing RSV hospitalization rate requires further research and may be the basis for urgent healthcare measures. The results may be helpful in comparative analyses in the European and global context.

Impact of parental smoking on influenza and others respiratory infections in children.

BACKGROUND: The predisposition of cigarette smokers for the development of respiratory infections, including influenza, have been well documented. As well, those exposed to side stream smoke are prone to viral and bacterial infections of the respiratory tract. AIM: The study aimed to evaluate whether the prevalence of smoking parents is higher among children with respiratory tract infections, including influenza, in comparison to the general population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, cohort study. The authors surveyed a cohort of patients and their families, hospitalized in the Paediatric University Hospital in Warsaw during 2018 influenza season. Patients were diagnosed with influenza (using PCR) or other respiratory tract infections. A questionnaire on smoking habits was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 72 patients were included in the study, median age 2 years and 9 months (IQR: 1.4 - 7.2), influenza was diagnosed in 43% (n= 31) of patients. The percentage of regularly smoking parents in the whole cohort amounted to 33.3% (44 of 132) and was statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the general population (22.7%), whereas in the subgroup with influenza and non-influenza infections it reached 32.2% and 34.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of smoking parents of children with acute respiratory tract infections is higher than in the general population: exposing children to tobacco smoke is one of the risk factors for acquiring influenza and others respiratory tract infections. Quitting smoking can decrease the risk of infectious diseases.