Infants are at risk
At risk immediately after birth
About RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common, highly contagious virus that can compromise the lungs and breathing passages. RSV can cause serious infections that can lead to hospitalizations and may be life-threatening.1,2
Proportion of infant RSV hospitalizations by age in months, across data sources*
Adapted from Parikh RC et al.3
Who’s at high risk for severe RSV infection?
Premature infants1
Infants (≤ 6 months)1
Infants with certain underlying conditions4
E.g. Chronic lung disease | Congenital heart disease
The impact of RSV in infants
Infants < 1 year of age have more severe RSV disease.6
Leading cause of hospitalization for children aged < 1 year in Canada.*,7
Leading cause of LRTI in young children†,8
Attributable costs for ARI attributed to RSV cases were substantially higher in the first 3 months.*,7
Raise RSV awareness in new parents and expecting parents to lessen the impact of RSV.
LRTI: lower respiratory tract infection; ARI: acute respiratory infection
*Based on a retrospective case-control study to estimate the attributable healthcare costs per RSV case in Alberta.
†Based on a prospective cohort study among children aged 0–35 months in Quebec City.
Short quiz!
Take the three-question quiz to test your knowledge.
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More than 50% of hospitalizations in infants occur in the first 3 months of life.
- True
- False
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This is true.
More than 50% of hospitalizations occur in the first 3 months of life, and > 75% of hospitalizations occur in the first 6 months.3
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Only infants with underlying conditions are at risk of RSV.
- True
- False
2/3
This is false.
Of infants hospitalized for RSV disease, 67% were born at term with no underlying conditions.5
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RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for children aged < 1 year in Canada.
- True
- False
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Correct!
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3/3
This is true.
RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for children aged < 1 year in Canada.*,7
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*Based on a retrospective case-control study to estimate the attributable
healthcare costs per RSV case in Alberta.
Learn more about how RSV affects older adults.
- Take the quiz on older adults
- Retake Quiz
References :
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RSV in infants and young children. Updated October 2020. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/downloads/RSV-in-Infants-and-Young-Children.pdf. 2. Government of Canada. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): for health professionals. Accessed April 18, 2023. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/health-professionals.html. 3. Parikh RC et al. Chronologic age at hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus among preterm and term infants in the United States. Infect Dis Ther. 2017;6(4):477–486. 4. Piedimonte G et al. Respiratory syncytial virus infection and bronchiolitis. Pediatr Rev. 2014;35(12):519–530. 5. Arriola CS et al. Estimated burden of community-onset respiratory syncytial virus–associated hospitalizations among children aged < 2 years in the United States, 2014–15. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2020;9(5):587–595. 6. Mitchell I et al. Burden of respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations in Canada. Can Respir J. 2017;2017:4521302. 7. Rafferty E et al. Evaluating the individual healthcare costs and burden of disease associated with RSV across age groups. Pharmacoeconomics. 2022;40(6):633–645. 8. Papenburg J et al. Comparison of risk factors for human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus disease severity in young children. J Infect Dis. 2012; 206(2):178–189.
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