Specific immunoglobulin A levels against RSV and its clinical
characteristics in a cohort of infected pediatric patients in Mexico
Abstract
Introduction: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the main causative
agent of respiratory tract infections at pediatric ages in Mexico and
around the world. In our study we determine and correlating clinics
characteristics to the levels of specific IgA against RSV in respiratory
samples for infected children and the absence or presence of exclusive
breastfeeding. Material and methods: This is a clinical, ambispective
and comparative study. There were included all patients pediatrics
hospitalized and the samples of nasopharyngeal exudate were obtained,
there was performed an ELISA on them with a Human Respiratory Syncytial
Virus to determine the levels of specific IgA against RSV. Results: The
total of patients included was 197. Finding that only 4.1% of infants
received a complete vaccination schedule. Up to 22.8% were coinfected
with a virus upon admission. There was found a significant difference in
the rate of oxygenation during the admission presented by lactated vs
non-lactated patients (p 0.002), as well as the presence of crackles p =
0.029 (95% CI 0.502-0.095) and wheezing p = 0.043 (95% CI
0.522-0.980), and a difference between the levels of specific IgA and
the personal history of repeated respiratory tract infections (p =
0.018). Differences in symptoms such as dry cough, thoracoabdominal
dissociation (p = 0.043, p = 0.044 respectively), were found as well.
Conclusions: The results obtained from this research lead to stablish
that low levels of specific IgA against RSV in the airways, are
statistically and clinically related to greater severity of RSV
infection.