Background: The aim of this study was to characterize respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. To do this, the authors evaluated eosinophil counts and chemokines including regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES) in children with RSV, adenoviral, and influenza virus infections.
Methods: The authors enrolled 80 patients who had been diagnosed with acute viral respiratory infection caused by RSV, adenoviral, or influenza viruses. In total, 35 patients (Group A) had RSV infection, 18 (Group B) had adenoviral infection, and 27 (Group C) had influenza virus infection. The authors evaluated clinical manifestations, white blood cell and eosinophil counts, and serum chemokines including RANTES concentrations in the acute and recovery phases in each group.
Results: In recovery phase, eosinophil counts were higher in Group A than Groups B and C. In Group A, eosinophil counts were higher in recovery phase than in the acute phase. In Group A, serum RANTES concentration was significantly higher in the recovery phase than in the acute phase (132+/-76 pg/mL vs 52+/-25 pg/mL, P<0.05).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that high values of RANTES in children with RSV infection may be associated with the presence of eosinophils and be an important mediator of inflammatory response.