Impact of respiratory syncytial virus on hospital admissions in children younger than 3 years of age.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main pathogen associated to acute respiratory infections (ARI) in children worldwide.

Objective: To determine the contribution of RSV to hospital admissions in children <3 years of age from May 2003 through April 2005 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of children <3 years of age admitted to a public general hospital and detection of RSV in respiratory secretions of children with ARI.

Viral etiology of lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized children in Mexico.

Background: Respiratory viruses are the main cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) reported worldwide. The contribution of viral infections to respiratory infections in Mexico has not been fully determined.

Objective: To determine the contribution of viral infections in hospitalized children with LRTI.