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RSV disease burden in Primary Care in Italy: A Multi-Region Pediatric study, winter season 2022-23
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  • Michela Scarpaci,
  • Sara Bracaloni,
  • Enrica Esposito,
  • Luigi De Angelis,
  • Francesco Baglivo,
  • Beatrice Casini,
  • Donatella Panatto,
  • Matilde Ogliastro,
  • Daniela Loconsole,
  • Maria Chironna,
  • Elena Pariani,
  • Laura Pellegrinelli,
  • Elisabetta Pandolfi,
  • Ileana Croci,
  • Caterina Rizzo,
  • RSVComNet Italy Working Group
Michela Scarpaci
University of Pisa
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Sara Bracaloni
University of Pisa
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Enrica Esposito
University of Pisa
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Luigi De Angelis
University of Pisa

Corresponding Author:l.deangelis2@studenti.unipi.it

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Francesco Baglivo
University of Pisa
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Beatrice Casini
University of Pisa
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Donatella Panatto
University of Genoa
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Matilde Ogliastro
University of Genoa
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Daniela Loconsole
University of Bari Aldo Moro
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Maria Chironna
University of Bari
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Elena Pariani
University of Milan
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Laura Pellegrinelli
University of Milan
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Elisabetta Pandolfi
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Ileana Croci
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Caterina Rizzo
University of Pisa
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RSVComNet Italy Working Group
University of Pisa
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Abstract

Introduction: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most frequent causes of respiratory infections in children under five years of age, but its socio-economic impact and burden in primary care settings is still little studied. Methods: During the 2022/23 winter season, 55 pediatricians from five Italian regions participated in our community-based study. They collected a nasal swab for RSV molecular test from 650 patients under the age of 5 with Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) and performed a baseline questionnaire. The clinical and socio-economic burden of RSV disease in primary care was evaluated by two follow-up questionnaires completed by the parents of positive children, on day 14 and 30. Results: RSV laboratory-confirmed cases were 37.8% of the total recruited ARI cases, with RSV subtype B accounting for the majority (65.4%) of RSV-positive swabs. RSV-positive children were younger than RSV-negative ones (median 12.5 vs 16.5 months). The mean duration of symptoms for all children infected by RSV was 11.47 ± 6.27 days. We did not observe substantial differences in clinical severity between the two RSV subtypes, but RSV-A positive patients required more additional pediatric examinations than RSV-B cases. The socioeconomic impact of RSV infection was considerable, causing 53% of children to be absent from school, 46% of parents to lose working days and 25% of families to incur extra costs. Conclusions: Our findings describe a baseline of the RSV disease burden in primary care in Italy before the introduction of upcoming immunization strategies.