Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2018 Jul;6(4):206-210. 10.4168/aard.2018.6.4.206.

Correlation of respiratory syncytial virus infection with climate parameters and air pollution levels in Korean children during 2005–2012

• Jung JH
• Chu SY
• Kim JY
• Han TH
• Park SH
• Chung JY
• Kim HB

• KMID: 2417847
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2018.6.4.206

Abstract

PURPOSE
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infants and children. We investigated the association of meteorological conditions and air pollution with the prevalence of RSV infection.
METHODS
Between January 2005 and December 2012, a total of 9,113 nasopharyngeal swab specimens from children under 3 years of age who were admitted to the hospital with acute LRTI were tested for RSV antigens using a direct immunofluorescence kit. Meteorological data (mean temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and relative humidity) and air pollutant levels including PM₁₀ (particulate matter with a median aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 µm in diameter), nitrogen dioxide (NOâ‚‚), sulfur dioxide (SOâ‚‚), and carbon monoxide (CO) in Seoul during the study period were collected from the national monitoring system. The correlations of the monthly incidence of RSV infection with climate factors and air pollutant levels were analyzed.
RESULTS
RSV infection mainly occurred between October and February, and showed the peak in November. The prevalence of RSV infection had a moderate negative correlation with mean temperature (r=−0.60, P < 0.001), a weak negative correlation with relative humidity (r=−0.26, P=0.01), and precipitation (r=−0.34, P=0.001). Regarding air pollutants, RSV activity moderately correlated with NO₂ (r=0.40, P < 0.001), SO₂ (r=0.41, P < 0.001), and CO (r=0.58, P < 0.001). In the RSV peak season in Korea (between October and February), RSV epidemics showed a weak positive correlation with relative humidity (r=0.35, P=0.03) and precipitation (r=0.38, P=0.02).
CONCLUSION
Meteorological factors and air pollutant levels may be associated with RSV activity. Therefore, further nationwide large-scaled intensive evaluations to prove factors affecting RSV activity are warranted.

Keyword

Respiratory syncytial virus; Prevalence; Climate factors; Air pollution

MeSH Terms

Air Pollutants
Air Pollution*
Carbon Monoxide
Child*
Climate*
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
Humans
Humidity
Incidence
Infant
Korea
Meteorological Concepts
Nitrogen Dioxide
Prevalence
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses*
Respiratory Tract Infections
Seasons
Seoul
Sulfur Dioxide
Wind
Air Pollutants
Carbon Monoxide
Nitrogen Dioxide
Sulfur Dioxide

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Monthly distribution of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, climate factors, and air pollutant levels from 2005 to 2012. PM10, particulate matter with a median aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 µm in diameter; NO2, nitrogen dioxide; SO2, sulfur dioxide; CO, carbon monoxide.

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