Evaluation of Impact of Some Epidemiologic Factors on the Bronchiolitis Caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Infants and Young Children Under 5 Years Old in Al- Diwaniyah Province

Authors

• Rajaa Abd Hamaadi Chaloob, Dep. Of Microbiology / College of Medicine / University of Al-Qadisiyah, IraqFollow
• Wissam Salih Abood, Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Al- Qadisiyah, Iraq

Abstract

Background:. The biggest viral cause of bronchiolitis and one of the major agents behind respiratory-tract infections globally is the Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV). RSV is transmitted through airborne droplets or close contact with contaminated objects. Objective: The purpose of this research is to detect major risk factors associated with susceptibility to and severity of bronchiolitis in infants and young children under the age of five caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).  study design to detect antibodies Immunoglobulin M (IgM) for human RSV in serum samples by using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits as a diagnostic test Methods: This study included 50 samples from children with respiratory infections diagnosed by pediatricians or seen at outpatient units of Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Maternity & Child Hospital, along with 50 samples from apparently healthy children under five as a control group. Samples were collected between December 2024 and February 2025. Clinical features, complications, and lab data were recorded. Statistical analysis was conducted to identify significant risk factors. Results: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Diwaniyah City, Iraq. The current study showed that 24 (48.0%) positive samples out of 50 samples had RSV infection. Risk factors for severity of infection were identified in terms of age, sex, exposure to smoking, type of feeding, prematurity, and type of exposure (moderate or severe). The frequency distribution of Respiratory Syncytial Virus according to age showed that children less than 1 year old, of the male sex, exposed to tobacco smoke, and artificially fed are more susceptible to being infected with RSV. Conclusion: Several risk factors have been associated with susceptibility to and severity of bronchiolitis caused by RSV in infants and young children under 5 years old.

Article Type

Review

Recommended Citation

Chaloob, Rajaa Abd Hamaadi and Abood, Wissam Salih (2025) "Evaluation of Impact of Some Epidemiologic Factors on the Bronchiolitis Caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Infants and Young Children Under 5 Years Old in Al- Diwaniyah Province," Al-Qadisiyah Medical Journal: Vol. 21: Iss. 2, Article 7.
Available at: https://qmj.qu.edu.iq/journal/vol21/iss2/7

First Page

114

Last Page

119

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.