All issues > Volume 47(9); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(9):949-952. Published online September 15, 2004.

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

In Suk IS Lim¹, Min Joo MJ Shim¹, Byung Eui BE Kim¹, Ju Young JY Chung¹, Chang Keun CK Kim¹, Myoung Jae MJ Chey¹, Sang Woo SW Kim¹, Soung Hee SH Kim², Tae Hee TH Han³

¹Departments of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea
²Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea
³Departments of Pediatrics, Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Byung Eui BE Kim ,Email: kbetel@sanggyepaik.ac.kr

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.

Keywords :Respiratory syncytial virus, Neonate, Infant