Volume 24, Issue 106, November - December, 2020

Prevalence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and its Associated Risk Factors among Children during Winter Season: Findings from Multiregional study in Saudi Arabia

Sameer Al-Ghamdi^1♦, Lama Mohammed Alqthami², Dakhel Fahad Almubarak³, Solyman Abdullah Abdullah⁴, Faisl Abdulmohsin Alslimah⁵, Bader bander Alonidheel⁶

¹Family & Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia; Email: sh.alghamdi@psau.edu.sa
²College of Medicine, Umm Alquraa University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; Email: lam-111@hotmail.com
³College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdualziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia; Email: Dakhel123@hotmail.com
⁴College of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland; Email: Solyman.a.s.a@gmail.com
⁵College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia; Email: Faisalalslimah@gmail.com
⁶College of Medicine, Shaqra University, Al-Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia; Email: baderonidheel@gmail.com

^♦Corresponding author
Family & Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia; Email: sh.alghamdi@psau.edu.sa / sam3443@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is regarded as a habitual periodic disease among infant and young children and can cause many illnesses. While certain birth conditions predispose infants to RSV, external conditions such as passive smoking, overcrowding weather can also increase the risk of RSV. The present study is interested in understanding these factors present them as potential risks using empirical modelling. Method: The study design is a cross-sectional study carried out on a domestic level across Saudi Arabia. Participation in the study was only allowed upon filling out an informed consent form. The information so obtained was not shared with any third-party individuals. The study was commissioned by the Research Ethics Committee (REC). Both descriptive analysis and inferential analysis with the latter being carried out at 5% significance level. Results: The final sample of 414 respondents who were all adult and who were reported to be all parents. 85.7% of the parents reported that their children were born at full term. 8.2% of the parents reported their children were suffering from RSV. RSV condition was significantly associated with a condition of cold. A child born at pre-term had more chance of having RSV than a child born at full term. Conclusion: Using neonatal ICU and machine support for respiratory after birth has the highest respective risks for RSV among children. Parental smoking and children’s attendance to day-care are the riskiest external environments for RSV, respectively.

Keywords: RSV, Risk, external environment neonatal

Medical Science, 2020, 24(106), 4388-4395

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