Respiratory tract infections in children with congenital heart disease

Abstract: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection is common among young children. Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is a risk factor of severe illness and hospitalization. Palivizumab prophylaxis reduces the severity of RSV infection and reduces the risk of hospitalization for children at high risk of severe illness, such as children born premature or with CHD.The aim of this thesis was to evaluate compliance with national guidelines for prophylactic treatment and to study the Relative Risk (RR) of hospitalization due to RSV and unspecified Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI) for children with CHD.In a prospective study, questionnaires were sent to all paediatric cardiology centres in Sweden with questions about prophylactic treatment. Hospitalization rates were retrieved from the national inpatient registry. Heart defects were grouped according to type and the relative risk of hospitalization was calculated for each group and for summer and winter seasons.Half of the patients received prophylactic treatment later than recommended in the guidelines. The risk of hospitalization due to RSV infection was increased (RR=2.06 95% CI 1.6-2.6; p < 0.0001) for children with CHD compared to children without CHD. The RR of hospitalization was also increased for all CHD subgroups, and was further increased during summer for children with the more severe CHD.We conclude that guidelines for prophylactic treatment were not followed and that the risk of hospitalization due to RSV and unspecified RTI was increased for all subgroups of CHD. The risk was increased both during winter and summer and we therefore argue that information to health personnel and parents should include that the risk of severe RTI is present all year round for children with CHD.