Respiratory syncytial virus infection among young children with acute respiratory tract infection in Iraq.

The incidence of respiratory syncytial virus infection was assessed among 516 children under 5 years with acute respiratory infection and 57 control children free of respiratory infection to determine its relation to epidemiological variables. Respiratory syncytial virus was detected in 188 (37.6%) children with acute respiratory infection and in none of the control group. The infection was highest in those with severe acute respiratory infection, particularly severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia and it precipitated acute bronchial asthma in children over 2 years. The infection was most common in the first 6 months and both sexes were equally affected. Socioeconomic factors and crowding played no significant role in the incidence and spread of the infection. Breastfeeding had no clear protective effect against the infection.