Daijiworld Media Network - Stockholm

Stockholm, Sep 12: A new study has found that even healthy, full-term babies are vulnerable to severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, often requiring intensive care or prolonged hospitalisation—particularly in the first three months of life.

RSV is one of the most common causes of respiratory infections in young children. Globally, it leads to 3.6 million hospitalisations and nearly 100,000 deaths every year in children under five.

While premature babies and children with chronic illnesses are already recognised as high-risk groups, the study highlights that previously healthy children are also not spared.

The research, conducted by Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, analysed data of 2.3 million children born between 2001 and 2022. Findings revealed that the largest group of severely affected cases were full-term, otherwise healthy infants under three months of age.

"When shaping treatment strategies, it is important to take into account that even healthy infants can be severely affected by RSV," said Giulia Dallagiacoma, physician and doctoral student at Karolinska Institutet.

Among all children studied, 1.7% were diagnosed with RSV, and of these, nearly 12% (4,621 children) developed severe illness.

The researchers also flagged additional risk factors—babies born in winter months, those with siblings under three years, twins, and children born small at birth showed up to three- to fourfold higher risk of severe outcomes. Children with underlying medical conditions faced more than four times the risk of intensive care or death.

On a positive note, experts said preventive treatment is now available for newborns, while vaccines for pregnant women could also offer protection.