A Comparison of Clinical Manifestations in Neonates and Infants Infected by Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Lim, In Suk; Shim, Min Joo; Kim, Byung Eui; Chung, Ju Young; Kim, Chang Keun; Chey, Myoung Jae; Kim, Sang Woo; Kim, Soung Hee; Han, Tae Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to evaluate of clinical manifestations of neonatal respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) infection, and to evaluate of differences of clinical manifestations between the neonates and infants who were infected by RSV. METHODS: We reviewed the medical record of 75 children who were younger than 12 months of age and infected by RSV. We classified then into a neonatal group(n=30) and an infantile group(n=45) and compared the neonatal group with the infantile group by clinical manifestation and chest X-ray. RESULTS: Fever was more significant in the infantile group than the neonatal group(P=0.0256). The chest wall retraction was seen significantly in the neonatal group(P=0.0034). The study didn't show a significant difference in wheezing or rale between the two groups. There was not any significant difference in cyanosis and apnea between the two groups but the symptoms appeared more frequently in the neonatal group. With regard to chest X-rays, pneumonia is seen more frequently in the neonatal group(23/30, 76.67%) and bronchiolitis is seen more frequently in the infantile group (25/45, 55.55%). CONCLUSION: Neonatal RSV infections appear with fever less than infantile RSV infection and may appear with mild clinical manifestations, but chest retraction and pneumonia are more frequently present than in the infantile group. Therefores, neonate needs careful observation and treatment.