Journal List > Allergy Asthma Respir Dis > v.6(4) > 1099897

TOOLS
Jung, Chu, Kim, Han, Park, Chung, and Kim: Correlation of respiratory syncytial virus infection with climate parameters and air pollution levels in Korean children during 2005–2012
Original Article

Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2018;6(4):206-210.

Published online: 5 July 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2018.6.4.206

Correlation of respiratory syncytial virus infection with climate parameters and air pollution levels in Korean children during 2005–2012

Ji-Hyun Jung1, Shou-Yu Chu1, Je-Yeon Kim1, Tae-Hee Han2, Sang-Hun Park3, Ju-Young Chung1, Hyo-Bin Kim1

1Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea

2Department of Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea

3Microbiology Division, Seoul Health Environment Research Center, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence to: Hyo-Bin Kim https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1928-722X Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, 1342 Dongil-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01757, Korea Tel: +82-2-950-1663, Fax: +82-2-950-1662, E-mail: hbkim@paik.ac.kr

Received 22 January 201814 March 2018       Accepted 26 March 2018

Copyright © 2018 The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease; The Korean Academy of Asthma

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infants and children. We investigated the association of meteorological conditions and air pollution with the prevalence of RSV infection.

Methods

Between January 2005 and December 2012, a total of 9,113 nasopharyngeal swab specimens from children under 3 years of age who were admitted to the hospital with acute LRTI were tested for RSV antigens using a direct immunofluorescence kit. Meteorological data (mean temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and relative humidity) and air pollutant levels including PM10 (particulate matter with a median aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 µm in diameter), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) in Seoul during the study period were collected from the national monitoring system. The correlations of the monthly incidence of RSV infection with climate factors and air pollutant levels were analyzed.

Results

RSV infection mainly occurred between October and February, and showed the peak in November. The prevalence of RSV infection had a moderate negative correlation with mean temperature (r=-0.60, P<0.001), a weak negative correlation with relative humidity (r=-0.26, P=0.01), and precipitation (r=-0.34, P=0.001). Regarding air pollutants, RSV activity moderately correlated with NO2 (r=0.40, P<0.001), SO2 (r=0.41, P<0.001), and CO (r=0.58, P<0.001). In the RSV peak season in Korea (between October and February), RSV epidemics showed a weak positive correlation with relative humidity (r=0.35, P=0.03) and precipitation (r=0.38, P= 0.02).

Conclusion

Meteorological factors and air pollutant levels may be associated with RSV activity. Therefore, further nationwide large-scaled intensive evaluations to prove factors affecting RSV activity are warranted.

Keywords: Respiratory syncytial virus, Prevalence, Climate factors, Air pollution

REFERENCES

1. Tang JW, Loh TP. Correlations between climate factors and incidence: a contributor to RSV seasonality. Rev Med Virol. 2014; 24:15–34.
2. Kamigaki T, Chaw L, Tan AG, Tamaki R, Alday PP, Javier JB, et al. Seasonality of influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses and the effect of climate factors in subtropical-tropical Asia using influenza-like illness surveillance data, 2010-2012. PLoS One. 2016; 11:e0167712.
3. Yusuf S, Piedimonte G, Auais A, Demmler G, Krishnan S, Van Caeseele P, et al. The relationship of meteorological conditions to the epidemic activity of respiratory syncytial virus. Epidemiol Infect. 2007; 135:1077–90.
crossref
4. Sirimi N, Miligkos M, Koutouzi F, Petridou E, Siahanidou T, Michos A. Respiratory syncytial virus activity and climate parameters during a 12-year period. J Med Virol. 2016; 88:931–7.
crossref
5. Nenna R, Evangelisti M, Frassanito A, Scagnolari C, Pierangeli A, Antonelli G, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis, weather conditions and air pollution in an Italian urban area: an observational study. Environ Res. 2017; 158:188–93.
crossref
6. Vandini S, Corvaglia L, Alessandroni R, Aquilano G, Marsico C, Spinelli M, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants and correlation with meteorological factors and air pollutants. Ital J Pediatr. 2013; 39:1.
crossref
7. Meerhoff TJ, Paget JW, Kimpen JL, Schellevis F. Variation of respiratory syncytial virus and the relation with meteorological factors in different winter seasons. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009; 28:860–6.
crossref
8. du Prel JB, Puppe W, Gröndahl B, Knuf M, Weigl JA, Schaaff F, et al. Are meteorological parameters associated with acute respiratory tract infections? Clin Infect Dis. 2009; 49:861–8.
crossref
9. Goldizen FC, Sly PD, Knibbs LD. Respiratory effects of air pollution on children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016; 51:94–108.
crossref
10. Lapeña S, Robles MB, Castañón L, Martínez JP, Reguero S, Alonso MP, et al. Climatic factors and lower respiratory tract infection due to respiratory syncytial virus in hospitalised infants in northern Spain. Eur J Epidemiol. 2005; 20:271–6.
crossref
11. Zhang XL, Shao XJ, Wang J, Guo WL. Temporal characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children and its correlation with climatic factors at a public pediatric hospital in Suzhou. J Clin Virol. 2013; 58:666–70.
crossref
12. Paynter S. Humidity and respiratory virus transmission in tropical and temperate settings. Epidemiol Infect. 2015; 143:1110–8.
crossref
13. Paynter S, Ware RS, Sly PD, Weinstein P, Williams G. Respiratory syncytial virus seasonality in tropical Australia. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2015; 39:8–10.
crossref
14. Tang JW, Lai FY, Wong F, Hon KL. Incidence of common respiratory viral infections related to climate factors in hospitalized children in Hong Kong. Epidemiol Infect. 2010; 138:226–35.
crossref
15. Bhatt JM, Everard ML. Do environmental pollutants influence the onset of respiratory syncytial virus epidemics or disease severity? Paediatr Respir Rev. 2004; 5:333–8.
crossref
16. de Marco R, Accordini S, Marcon A, Cerveri I, Antó JM, Gislason T, et al. Risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a European cohort of young adults. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011; 183:891–7.
crossref
17. Narang I, Bush A. Early origins of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2012; 17:112–8.
crossref
18. Hansel NN, Breysse PN, McCormack MC, Matsui EC, Curtin-Brosnan J, Williams DL, et al. A longitudinal study of indoor nitrogen dioxide levels and respiratory symptoms in inner-city children with asthma. Environ Health Perspect. 2008; 116:1428–32.
crossref
19. Bono R, Romanazzi V, Bellisario V, Tassinari R, Trucco G, Urbino A, et al. Air pollution, aeroallergens and admissions to pediatric emergency room for respiratory reasons in Turin, northwestern Italy. BMC Public Health. 2016; 16:722.
crossref
20. Neas LM, Dockery DW, Ware JH, Spengler JD, Speizer FE, Ferris BG Jr. Association of indoor nitrogen dioxide with respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in children. Am J Epidemiol. 1991; 134:204–19.
crossref
21. Nhung NTT, Amini H, Schindler C, Kutlar Joss M, Dien TM, Probst-Hensch N, et al. Short-term association between ambient air pollution and pneumonia in children: a systematic review and metaanalysis of time-series and case-crossover studies. Environ Pollut. 2017; 230:1000–8.
crossref
22. HEI Collaborative Working Group on Air Pollution, Poverty, and Health in Ho Chi Minh City. Le TG, Ngo L, Mehta S, Do VD, Thach TQ, et al. Effects of short-term exposure to air pollution on hospital admissions of young children for acute lower respiratory infections in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Res Rep Health Eff Inst. 2012; (169):5–72.
23. Brauer M, Hoek G, Smit HA, de Jongste JC, Gerritsen J, Postma DS, et al. Air pollution and development of asthma, allergy and infections in a birth cohort. Eur Respir J. 2007; 29:879–88.
crossref
24. Brauer M, Hoek G, Van Vliet P, Meliefste K, Fischer PH, Wijga A, et al. Air pollution from traffic and the development of respiratory infections and asthmatic and allergic symptoms in children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002; 166:1092–8.
crossref

Fig. 1.
Monthly distribution of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, climate factors, and air pollutant levels from 2005 to 2012. PM10, particulate matter with a median aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 µm in diameter; NO2, nitrogen dioxide; SO2, sulfur dioxide; CO, carbon monoxide.
aard-6-206f1.tif
Table 1.
Distribution of respiratory syncytial virus prevalence at each year and month
Month 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Jan 20 (26.0) 42 (30.0) 14 (12.4) 44 (51.2) 17 (26.6) 66 (54.5) 43 (37.7) 25 (19.1)
Feb 11 (23.9) 22 (22.9) 9 (19.1) 17 (25.4) 8 (21.1) 63 (58.9) 28 (41.2) 16 (18.4)
Mar 8 (15.1) 16 (12.7) 12 (11.9) 13 (18.8) 8 (11.3) 27 (28.1) 15 (22.2) 14 (12.7)
Apr 9 (13.0) 3 (2.8) 9 (6.9) 7 (7.4) 0 (0.0) 18 (16.5) 7 (8.1) 1 (0.5)
May 6 (6.5) 2 (1.6) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (1.2) 3 (2.4) 1 (0.8) 1 (0.5)
Jun 1 (1.8) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0)
Jul 5 (11.6) 2 (4.1) 0 (0.0) 2 (13.3) 2 (5.9) 1 (1.7) 5 (10.6) 2 (2.5)
Aug 7 (18.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 2 (16.7) 0 (0.0) 4 (7.7) 8 (18.2) 6 (9.8)
Sep 28 (32.6) 9 (10.2) 4 (23.5) 15 (25.0) 0 (0.0) 6 (14.6) 17 (25.8) 29 (27.4)
Oct 35 (33.7) 47 (33.6) 16 (32.7) 50 (37.3) 3 (20.0) 8 (10.8) 80 (46.8) 86 (47.8)
Nov 48 (36.4) 116 (52.5) 84 (60.0) 95 (47.5) 28 (43.1) 63 (34.4) 112 (48.1) 135 (54.7)
Dec 29 (24.6) 86 (44.8) 100 (52.9) 54 (40.3) 83 (50.0) 67 (34.7) 71 (37.4) 59 (43.1)

Values are presented as number (%).

Table 2.
Correlation of respiratory syncytial virus prevalence with climate factors and air pollutants
Climate factor Total
 Peak season (Oct–Feb)
Correlation coefficients P-value Correlation coefficients P-value
Mean temperature (°C) -0.60 <0.001 0.06 0.72
Relative humidity (%) -0.26 0.01 0.35 0.03
Wind speed (m/sec) -0.20 0.052 -0.01 0.94
Precipitation (mm) -0.34 0.001 0.38 0.02
PM10 (µg/m3) 0.04 0.68 -0.18 0.28
NO2 (ppm) 0.40 <0.001 0.06 0.71
SO2 (ppm) 0.41 <0.001 -0.08 0.62
CO (ppm) 0.58 <0.001 -0.08 0.64

PM10, particulate matter with a median aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 µm in diameter; NO2, nitrogen dioxide; SO2, sulfur dioxide; CO, carbon monoxide.

TOOLS
Similar articles