1. Lauren Hardman<br />Biology 1615/Kara Hanson<br />April 4, 2011<br />RSV study in South America<br />Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) is an infection caused by a pathogen affecting the respiratory tracts within the human body. The RSV infection causes cold-like symptoms sometimes leading to more severe lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis CITATION Cen01 1033 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Typically RSV will cause upper respiratory infections such as a runny nose, cough, headache, sore throat, etc.<br />Four scientists in the city of Fortaleza, Ceara in northeastern Brazil conducted a study on the correlation between the RSV infection and how it’s affected by the climate. The study was over a period of 43 consecutive months so the results could be more reliable. The study took place from January 2001 to July 2004. The city of Fortaleza inhabits 2,250,000 people and is located at four degrees south of the Equator. Fortaleza has two distinct seasons in their climate. The first half of the year is known as the rainy season, and the second half of the year is known as dry season. <br />The research participants included children of any age which acquired a clinical diagnoses of either acute upper and/or lower respiratory infection within seven days of onset. The participants also included those attending in ambulatory, emergency rooms, and hospital wards. To identify the infection, samples of the patient’s nasoharyngeal secretions were taken and processed for antigen detection by indirect immunofluorescence essay (IFA) using the antibody for RSV. As the data was collected, the Spearman’s correlation test was used to discover whether the climate and RSV outbreaks correlated. <br />A total of 1950 samples were collected and tested for RSV infection with the following results: 908 (46.6%) from children attending in ambulatory, 748 (38.4%) from children seen in an emergency room, and 294 (15%) from hospitalized children. Out of the 1950 samples, 409 (21%) were positive for RSV infection. The scientists continued to observe and noticed the RSV seasons in Fortaleza were approximately 6-8 months with the peak months being April, May, and June. During the peak months was when nearly 72% of RSV infections occurred. The study proved there were less cases of RSV during the second half of the year when the climate was much more dry. <br />Additional studies took place in other countries and proved different types of climate other than rainfall correlated with RSV outbreaks. In Singapore, the RSV occurrences coincided with higher temperatures and lower humidity. The study in Fortaleza only proved to show significant correlation between the rainy climate and RSV infection. <br />By conducting this study, the four scientists hoped for those providing care for hospitalized patients to gain more control and be more aware during the peak months when the higher percentages of outbreaks occur. The RSV infection is most common in children under age two. It is important for parents of children in places where climate affects occurrences of this infection to know when the peak months are and be ready to provide their child with treatment when and if the time comes. <br />References<br /> BIBLIOGRAPHY Fernanda E. A. Moura, Ila F. S. Nunes, and. quot;
RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS INFECTIONS IN.quot;
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2006): 165-167.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 25 January 20101. 4 April 2011 <http://www.cdc.gov/rsv/clinical/description.html>.<br /> <br />