Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- Navid Omidifar 1
- Alireza Shahedi 2
- Parnia Ansari Jaberi 3
- Maryam Jalali 4
- Mansoureh Shokripour 5
- Bizhan Nomanpour 5
- Bahareh Nikmanesh 6
- Hassan Akrami 6
- Ali Shahsavari 6
- Yousef Nikmanesh 6
1 Biotechnology Research Center, Department of Pathology, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
2 Student Research Committee, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
4 Department of E-Learning in Medical Sciences, Virtual School and Center of Excellence in E-Learning, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
5 Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
6 Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute respiratory infections, particularly in infants, young children, and patients with underlying diseases, where it may lead to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Given the shifts in the epidemiological pattern of respiratory viruses following the COVID-19 pandemic and the limited local data in Iran, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of RSV infection among hospitalized patients at Namazi Hospital in Shiraz.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from 2024 to 2025 on patients hospitalized with acute respiratory symptoms at Namazi Hospital. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were tested for RSV using Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records and analyzed with SPSS software, version 26. Statistical tests, including Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and t-test, were applied to assess associations between variables, with a significance level set at P<0.05.
Results: A total of 1,012 patients were enrolled, of whom 132 (13%) tested positive for RSV. The prevalence was significantly higher in the 0–5-year age group (20.1%, P<0.001). No significant difference was observed between men and women (P>0.05). Most positive cases occurred in winter (31.7%, P<0.001). Among clinical symptoms, fever and cough were most frequently associated with RSV positivity (16.5% and 16.4%, respectively).
Conclusion: RSV remained a leading cause of hospitalization for respiratory illness, particularly in young children, with a marked winter peak. The findings underscored the importance of strengthening seasonal surveillance, improving healthcare facility preparedness during cold months, and raising awareness among families and healthcare professionals for timely diagnosis and control.
Keywords
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