The Long-term Effect of RSV Infection

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of childhood illness and hospitalization across the world. In addition to acute mortality and morbidity, RSV infection is associated with developing recurrent wheeze in pre-school children and asthma in later life. The overarching aim of the study is to demonstrate the long-term effect of RSV infection on child health in resource-poor settings. Children previously infected with RSV in their first two months of life and age-matched controls will be followed and epidemiological data will be compared in terms of prevalence of asthma, lung function status, physical growth status, and asthma risk factors. Enrolled children will be routinely assessed for a period of 12 months. During this period, this study will record the health status of the children (respiratory tract illness, wheeze, cough, other illness, and attendance at medical services), physical growth (height, weight and mid-upper arm circumference), family history of atopic diseases (e.g. asthma) and environmental risk exposure (indoor tobacco smoke, crowding, and cooking fuels, cooking place) among enrolled children. Where the acute asthma exacerbation will be suspected, physicians will assess the lung condition of the enrolled sick children using stethoscope and peak flow-meter. The lung function of children will be measured using spirometry, hyper-reactivity against common allergens will be performed using skin prick methods, exercise challenge test will be performed to understand the airway hyperresponsiveness, and blood eosinophil count determine the eosinophil level in the peripheral blood.