Risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus infection leading to hospital admission in children in the Western Region of The Gambia.

ABSTRACT

PIP: A case-control study was conducted to identify the potential social and environmental risk factors of hospital admission due to acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) secondary to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Gambia. Included in the study were 277 children admitted to three hospitals in the Western Region of Gambia with ALRI secondary to RSV were compared to 364 control children who suffered ALRI during RSV season but were not admitted. The guardians of children were administered a detailed questionnaire that covered a wide range of potential social, environmental, and nutritional risk factors. Comparison between the two groups was based on the child's age and location of residence. Results showed that the case group comes from larger or more crowded compounds than the control group. Increased risk was particularly associated with greater number of children in the age group 3-5 years living in the compound. The socioeconomic factors did not seem to play a major role in predisposing severe RSV infection. The housing and environmental conditions in the case and control groups were similar, and the educational status of parents in both groups did not differ substantially. In summary, few important differences were found between the case and controls in social and environmental risk factors. The risk factors found do not explain much of the attributable risks, such as maternal asthma.