Sleep Medicine Commons^™

Sleep In Children In Foster Care: A Scoping Review, Juan Castellanos, Anna Wani, Jill Mcleigh

Health Status, Outcomes, and Literacy and Healthcare Utilization

Although the focus on sleep disturbances in children who have experienced adversity has increased, little is known about sleep among children in foster care (CFC). This study aimed to review what research tells us about the relationship between foster care experience and sleep disturbances and to identify knowledge gaps.

For questions about this study or others, please email [email protected]

childrens.com/fostercare

Craniofacial Differences And Safe Sleep Practices: Findings From A Caregiver Survey At A Children’S Hospital, Cait Vuturo-Brady, Aracelia S. Aldrete, Jesus Gil Inciong, Miccah Seaman, Rianna Leazer

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Purpose

Many infants with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) have airway issues that make supine, flat-surface sleep challenging.¹ Prior studies indicate that alternative positioning may reduce obstructive events,² and early sleep-disordered breathing can affect later development.³  Despite this, caregivers of infants with craniofacial differences rarely receive tailored sleep guidance, and no evidence-based, condition-specific recommendations currently exist.^4,5

Methods

This single-site, cross-sectional study evaluated sleep practices, caregiver education, and barriers to adherence among parents of children (< 3 years) with CL/P treated at CHKD’s Craniofacial Program. Eligible caregivers (n=117) were identified via query of the electronic medical record by CHKD Data Governance and invited to complete an anonymous REDCap survey assessing demographics, sleep environment, counseling, and understanding of safe-sleep recommendations.

Results & Conclusions

Of the 11 caregivers who completed the survey, 91% reported crib sleep, though several also used beds, couches, …

Progression Of Mild Sleep-Disordered Breathing In Children Managed With Watchful Waiting, Erin M. Kirkham, Stacey Ishman, Susan Garetz, Cristina M. Baldassari, Ron B. Mitchell, Christopher Liu, Ignacio E. Tapia, Lisa M. Elden, Fauziya Hassan, Sally Ibrahim, Kristie Ross, Mengqi Cen, Rui Wang, Susan Redline, Ronald D. Chervin

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Purpose

To identify clinical characteristics that may be associated with persistence or progression of mild sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children who are observed without surgery.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of the control arm of the Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring (PATS), which randomized 458 children aged 3.0 to 12.9 years with mild SDB (snoring with obstructive apnea-hypopnea index [oAHI] <  3 events/hour) to early adenotonsillectomy (eAT) versus watchful waiting with supportive care (WWSC). Participants were assessed at baseline and 12 months with the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire-Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder (PSQ-SRBD) scale and polysomnography (PSG). We tested for factors predictive of either (1) PSG progression defined by a 12-month oAHI ≥ 3 or (2) symptom persistence or progression defined by a 12-month PSQ-SRBD score ≥ 0.33.

Results

A total of 234 participants were observed (mean age 6.2 years, 111 [47%] female, 65 [28%] Black or African American, 37 [16%] Hispanic). Overall, only 13% (n = 20/150) progressed to an oAHI ≥ 3 on repeat PSG, …

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy Findings In Obese Adolescents With Sleep Apnea, Timothy Kearney, Turaj Vazifedan, Cristina M. Baldassari

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Objective

Data regarding drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) findings in obese adolescents with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are lacking; such information could be used to direct and improve management as there is controversy whether adenotonsillectomy (AT) or positive airway pressure is standard therapy for this population. Our primary objective is to describe DISE findings in obese adolescents.

Study Design

Case-control.

Setting

Tertiary care children's hospital.

Methods

A 10-year retrospective review was conducted of obese adolescents 12 to 21 years old with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 1) that underwent DISE prior to AT. All DISE procedures were scored utilizing a modified …

Prevalence Of Sleep Disturbances And Factors Associated Among School Going Children In Uganda, A Cross-Sectional Study, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Sleep disturbances greatly impact children's academic performance and social well-being. This study set out to determine the prevalence of sleep disturbances and factors associated among school going children in Kawempe division, Kampala, Uganda. Methods: In a community cross-sectional study, 548 study participants using random cluster sampling were enrolled. The children start lessons at 8am and end the days classes at 5pm. Random cluster sampling method was used to select participants from the 19 parishes in Kawempe district. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Descriptive statistics and multivariate binary logistic regression were …

Perspective: Restoring Rest-The Critical Role Of Sleep In Foster Care Well-Being, Jill Mcleigh, Anna Wani, Likhita Shaik

Health Status, Outcomes, and Literacy and Healthcare Utilization

In 2023, approximately 400,000 children were in foster care in the United States, a population disproportionately affected by trauma, instability, and systemic inequities.1 These children face chronic disruptions in sleep—an essential physiological process that underpins physical development, learning, emotional regulation, and overall health.²⁻⁴ Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, are prevalent in this group and contribute to significant sleep disturbances through pathways of hyperarousal, stress dysregulation, and recurrent nightmares. 3,4 Understanding the interplay between foster care, social determinants of health (SDOH), and sleep health disparities highlights opportunities for targeted interventions to improve outcomes.

For questions about …

Scoring Large Muscle Movements In Pediatric Sleep Studies: An Educational Module For Sleep Technologists, Shauna Michelle Vandoren, David G. Ingram

Posters

Introduction Restless Sleep Disorder (RSD) has recently been recognized as a distinct sleep disorder, with Large Muscle Movement (LMM) scoring being a crucial component of its diagnostic criteria. This project aimed to develop and implement an online educational module to enhance the knowledge and skills of sleep technologists to accurately score LMMs. Methods We constructed an online learning module that included training on the identification and scoring of LMMs in pediatric sleep studies. The module consisted of a 10-question pre-assessment, the educational content (which explained the background of RSD diagnosis, the role of LMMs in diagnostic criteria, and current scoring …

When Macroglossia Is Not Beckwith-Wiedemann: A Case Of An Infant With Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome, Shauna Michelle Vandoren, Samira Naime

Posters

Introduction Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by the mutation of the paired-like homeobox 2B (PHOX2B) gene that leads to alveolar hypoventilation during sleep and at times while awake. The majority of patients with CCHS have polyalanine repeat mutations (PARM) whereas 10% have non-PARM (NPARM). Of those with NPARM, less than 1% are caused by whole gene deletion. NPARM is associated with more severe phenotypes; however, some may have variable penetrance causing variable presentation within families. Report of case(s) Our patient is a 4-month-old infant born at 32 weeks in an outside hospital and transferred …

A Broad Examination Of Sleep Issues In Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis And Other Conditions, Chaithanya Annaluru

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Poor sleep hygiene can lead to serious health consequences, including the development of health disorders and the worsening of chronic illnesses. Poor sleep quality or duration has been linked to neurocognitive changes such as inattention and lower IQ scores. Sleep disorders are especially prevalent among pediatric patients with neurologic and neuropsychiatric conditions; for example, children with epilepsy and ADHD exhibit higher rates of parasomnias, while patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience REM sleep behavior disorder and insomnia more often than the general population. Additionally, co-existing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and epilepsy can worsen seizure control, and uncontrolled epilepsy can …

Virginia Academy Of Sleep Medicine Position Statement On School Start Times In Virginia, Sean Hesselbacher, Mariana Szklo-Coxe, Sachin Relia, Jonathan Gellman, Nicole Mcintyre

Eastern Virginia Medical Journal

The VASM endorses the 2017 AASM position statement that middle and high schools should begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The existing and updated scientific literature repeatedly identifies the detrimental impact of early high school start times, and the benefits of delaying start times, on the safety and well-being of students in Virginia. The adverse effects of early school start times on Virginia’s students have been demonstrated, with regards to academic performance, mental health, and driving risks. Data published since the AASM position paper highlight these dangers further. Importantly, recent studies also demonstrate some of the benefits that can come …

Reduced Slow Wave Sleep Is Associated With Increased Risk Of Short Stature In Children: A Cross-Sectional Study, Zhaohua Chen, Yuan Shi, Fei Lei, Xujun Feng, Lu Tan, Taomei Li, Junying Zhou, Yuanfeng Sun, Jiamin Liao, Yun Li, Zhoulong Yu, Jian Jiao, Yanyan Wang, Larry D. Sanford, Michael V. Vitiello, Ye Zhang, Rong Ren, Xiangdong Tang

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective: Although growth hormone was shown to be specifically released during slow wave sleep (SWS), no population-based evidence has demonstrated the association between sleep quality and childhood height. To address this gap, our study aims to investigate the relationship between SWS and height of children.

Methods: We analyzed polysomnography data and z-scores for height in 2527 suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) children (537 non-OSA children and 1990 OSA children) collected over the past 16 years. Different grades of z-scores for height and SWS were classified by the quartile method, and the lowest z-scores for height quartile defined short stature as …

Evaluation Of The Garmin Vivofit 4 For Assessing Sleep In Youth Experiencing Sleep Disturbances., Paul R. Hibbing, Madison Pilla, Lauryn Birmingham, Aniya Byrd, Tumusifu Ndagijimana, Sara Sadeghi, Nedra Seigfreid, Danielle Farr, Baha Al-Shawwa Md, David G. Ingram Md, Jordan A. Carlson

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: Wearable monitors are increasingly used to assess sleep. However, validity is unknown for certain monitors and populations. We tested the Garmin Vivofit 4 in a pediatric clinical sample.

METHODS: Participants (n = 25) wore the monitor on their nondominant wrist during an overnight polysomnogram. Garmin and polysomnography were compared using 95% equivalence testing, mean absolute error, and Bland-Altman analysis.

RESULTS: On average (mean ± SD), the Garmin predicted later sleep onset (by 0.84 ± 1.60 hours) and earlier sleep offset (by 0.34 ± 0.70 hours) than polysomnography. The resulting difference for total sleep time was -0.55 ± 1.21 hours. …

Subjective And Objective Sleep Quality Assessment In Adolescent Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Holly Breeden, Elizabeth Mcdonough, Amanda Glinky, Rebecca Wallace, Robbie Beyl, Colleen Leblanc

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objectives: There is a link between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and poor sleep quality that is presumed to be multifactorial. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that impact sleep quality in this group including clinical disease activity, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and disordered social media use through questionnaires. Methods: This prospective study analyzed sleep quality in adolescent patients ages 13 to 18 with a diagnosis of IBD using objective data from wrist actigraphy and subjective report from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Additional screeners including the Short Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index or Pediatric Ulcerative …

Smad8 Is Increased In Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy And Suppresses Mir-1, Mir-133a, And Mir-133b, Meghan L Royle, Eric J Connolly, Sara Nowakowski, Jeff R Temple

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Studies are beginning to document an association between sleep duration and a range of adolescent delinquent behaviors, including weapon carrying. However, little is known about whether and to what extent sleep quality - another dimension of sleep for healthy adolescent functioning - is associated with weapon carrying. We address this gap in knowledge by evaluating the role of restless sleep and sleep duration in adolescent weapon carrying.

METHODS: We analyze data from a diverse sample of 994 adolescents from Texas, USA collected in 2010. Multivariate logistic regression models estimate the association of sleep duration and restless sleep on weapon …

Tonsillectomy In Children With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome., Jill M. Arganbright, Paul Bryan Hankey, Meghan Tracy, Srivats Narayanan, Janelle R. Noel-Macdonnell Phd, David G. Ingram Md

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common procedures performed in children, however there are currently no published studies evaluating tonsillectomy in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). With this study, our goal was to investigate the indications, efficacy, and complications of tonsillectomy in a pediatric cohort of patients with 22q11DS. This is a retrospective chart review of patients in our 22q Center's repository. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of 22q11DS and a history of tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy. Data collected included: indications for tonsillectomy, preoperative and postoperative polysomnography (PSG) results, and surgical complications. In total, 33 patients were included. Most common …

Behavioral Parent Training For Adhd And Sleep: A Dream Pair, Whitney Rolling

Research Days

Background: Estimates for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbid sleep disorders range from 25-75% (4,5,10). Among childhood sleep disorders, behavioral insomnia is one of the most common, with the treatment of choice being behavioral parent training (BPT) (4). BPT therefore is a common treatment element for both sleep disturbance and ADHD and presents a unique opportunity for more holistic pediatric care.

Objectives/Goal: Our objective was to implement and evaluate a behavioral sleep intervention in an ADHD behavioral parent training (BPT) program. Goals of the intervention were to decrease behavioral sleep symptoms, increase sleep duration, and decrease ADHD impairment.

Methods/Design: …

Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Neonates., Indira Chandrasekar, Mary Anne Tablizo, Manisha Witmans, Jose Cruz, Marcus Cummins, Wendy Estrellado-Cruz

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Neonates have distinctive anatomic and physiologic features that predispose them to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The overall prevalence of neonatal OSA is unknown, although an increase in prevalence has been reported in neonates with craniofacial malformations, neurological disorders, and airway malformations. If remained unrecognized and untreated, neonatal OSA can lead to impaired growth and development, cardiovascular morbidity, and can even be life threatening. Polysomnography and direct visualization of the airway are essential diagnostic modalities in neonatal OSA. Treatment of neonatal OSA is based on the severity of OSA and associated co-morbidities. This may include medical and surgical interventions individualized for …

Treatment Considerations For Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Pediatric Down Syndrome, Erica Gastelum, Marcus Cummins, Amitoj Singh, Manuel Montoya, Gino Luis Urbano, Mary Anne Tablizo

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at high risk for developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared to children without DS. The negative impact of OSA on health, behavior, and cognitive development in children with DS highlights the importance of timely and effective treatment. Due to the higher prevalence of craniofacial and airway abnormalities, obesity, and hypotonia in patients with DS, residual OSA can still occur after exhausting first-line options. While treatment commonly includes adenotonsillectomy (AT) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, additional therapy such as medical management and/or adjuvant surgical procedures need to be considered in refractory OSA. Given …

Prospective Patient-Reported Symptom Profiles Associated With Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Relapse, Austin L Brown, Kimberly P Raghubar, Olga A Taylor, Melanie Brooke Bernhardt, Lisa S Kahalley, Wei Pan, Philip J Lupo, Marilyn J Hockenberry, Michael E Scheurer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: Despite improvements in frontline pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment, relapse remains a concern. Research in adult cancer patients suggests that patient-reported symptoms may predict survival, but the relationship between symptoms and relapse for pediatric ALL has received little attention.

METHODS: Pediatric patients with ALL (age 2-18 years) and/or their primary caregivers completed symptom surveys at the end of induction, start of delayed intensification (DI), start of maintenance cycle 1 (MC1), and start of maintenance cycle 2 (MC2). Symptom clusters for co-occurring fatigue, pain, sleep disruptions, and nausea were defined using latent profile analysis. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% …

Sleep Patterns And Problems Among Children With 22q11 Deletion Syndrome., Jill M. Arganbright, Meghan Tracy, Susan Starling Hughes, David G. Ingram Md

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: To delineate sleep habits and problems in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS).

METHODS: Thirty children, age 1-15 (mean 6.8) years, participated in the study, which was an internet-based anonymous survey of parents of children with 22q11DS administered via the 22q11.2 Foundation. The main outcome was the Childhood Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).

RESULTS: Scores on the CSHQ demonstrated clinically significant sleep problems in 29 of the 30 children. When compared with previously reported normative values for typically developing children of the same age, children with 22q11DS had significantly greater sleep problems. Only 30% of children had previously undergone sleep …

Creating A Noise-Reducing, Wearable Intervention For Newborns In The Nicu, Mohammad Rasool, Alexandra A. Mccullough, Alison Romisher, Robert S. Pugliese, Pharmd, Bcps, Bon Ku, Md, Mpp

Phase 1

Background: Excessive auditory stimulation can have negative effects on the growth and development of newborn babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that newborns should not be exposed to sounds in excess of 45dB while they are in the hospital, however noise levels in NICUs across the country are often between 50-100dB. A design project was conducted to develop an intervention that could reduce infant exposure to excessive noise.

Methods: Neonatologists, nurses, audiologists, music therapists, sound designers, soft materials experts, and medical device designers were interviewed and consulted throughout the design process. A 24-hour sound recording using a REED-SD-4023 meter …

Sound Dampening Headband For Infants, Alexandra A. Mccullough, Mohammad Rasool, Alison Romisher, Robert S. Pugliese, Pharmd, Bcps, Bon Ku, Md, Mpp

Phase 1

Background: Noise in the Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) has been linked to sleep disruption, vital sign destabilization, abnormal development, and stress response induction in infants. Specifically, a sound level ≥60 decibels (dB) was linked to sleep disruption in infants, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) set a maximum recommended sound level of 45dB in ICNs. The present work was conducted to confirm that the Jefferson ICN exceeds the 60dB and 45dB levels, like most hospitals do, and to conduct preliminary testing on materials for a wearable intervention to reduce infants’ exposure to noise.

Methods: A group of …

A Qualitative Study On Adequate Sleep In Preschool Children – Can We Sleep On It?, Seema Zainulabdin Lasi, Noreen Afzal, Somal Kayani

Human Development Programme

Sleep is a significant marker of physical and psychological health. The present research was undertaken to explore perceptions of parents, teachers and pediatricians about preschool children’s sleep patterns, habits, and problems from urban Karachi, Pakistan. A qualitative research approach was employed; data collection methods were Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The themes identified were children’s sleep patterns, sleep environment, sleep rituals, distractions, sleep problems, the impact of inadequate sleep, and recommendations to improve. Emergent themes were inconsistency of rules from parents, lack of opportunities for outdoor physical activity, different kinds of stresses, social and cultural events …

Current Practice Patterns In The Diagnosis And Management Of Sleep-Disordered Breathing In Infants., Rachana Kombathula, David G. Ingram Md, Zarmina Ehsan Md

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Currently, there are no universally accepted guidelines for diagnosis and management of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in infants. The purpose of this study was to survey pediatric sleep medicine providers regarding their current practice patterns for diagnosis and management of SDB in infants.

METHODS: An anonymous, web-based survey with 71 questions was distributed via the PEDSLEEP and Ped-Lung listserv, which serve as a hub of communication for pediatric sleep and pulmonary medicine providers worldwide.

RESULTS: Fifty-four providers from eight countries completed the survey. Ninety-six percent of providers reported performing sleep studies in infants with 53% performing more than 30 …

The Relationship Between Iron Status, Limb Movements, And Sleep Architecture In Children, David G. Ingram Md, Gaylyn Perry Md, Zarmina Ehsan Md, Baha Al-Shawwa Md

Posters

Background

•Iron status is an important aspect of the evaluation of children with excessive limb movements during sleep. •While there is clear data in adults to support this relationship, the data in children is less well established. •We evaluated the association between iron status and limb movements during sleep in a large pediatric sample. Methods •This is a retrospective analysis of a single institution sleep program looking at all patients who underwent overnight polysomnogram and ferritin test within 24 hours of doing the sleep study between January 2015 and October 2017. •Those with sleep apnea (Central Apnea Index >5/hr or …

Intermittent Hypoxemia In Preterm Infants, Elie G. Abu Jawdeh

Theses and Dissertations--Clinical and Translational Science

Intermittent hypoxemia (IH) is defined as episodic drops in oxygen saturation (SpO₂). Virtually all preterm infants have IH events. Extremely preterm infants have hundreds of IH events per day. The extent of IH is not apparent clinically as accurately documenting cardiorespiratory events for day-to-day patient care management is challenging. High resolution pulse oximeters with 2 second averaging time are currently the ideal methods to measure IH. We have developed novel methods and processes to accurately and efficiently calculate an IH profile that reflects to spectrum of the problem.

The natural progression of IH is dynamic. There is low …

The Relationship Between Vitamin D Status, Limb Movements, And Sleep Architecture In Children, David G. Ingram Md, Gaylyn Perry Md, Zarmina Ehsan Md, Baha Al-Shawwa Md

Posters

Background

•Vitamin D deficiency has recently been posited as an important factor in the pathogenesis of restless leg syndrome.

•We evaluated the association between vitamin D deficiency and limb movements and sleep architecture in a pediatric sample.

Methods

•This is a retrospective analysis of a single institution sleep program looking at all patients who underwent overnight polysomnogram and 25-OH vitamin D within 60 days of doing the sleep study between January 2015 and October 2017. •Those with sleep apnea (Central Apnea Index >5/hr or Obstructive Apnea Hypopnea Index >2/ hr) were excluded. Results •There were a total of 83 children …

Bedtime Fading With Response Cost For Treatment Of Sleep Disturbances In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sela Ann Sanberg

Theses & Dissertations

As many as 82% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) experience numerous chronic sleep-related problems and at a much higher frequency and severity than their typically developing peers. Behavioral treatments are considered best practice and first-line treatment to address sleep problems. These treatments tend to address one specific sleep-related behavior at a time. Bedtime Fading with Response Cost (BFRC) is a promising intervention that targets a multitude of sleep problems concurrently and has yet to be replicated by more than one investigative team in the home setting with children on the autism spectrum. This study evaluated the effectiveness of …

Longitudinal Cardiovascular Outcomes Of Sleep Disordered Breathing In Children: A Meta-Analysis And Systematic Review., Zarmina Ehsan, Stacey L. Ishman, Thomas R. Kimball, Nanhua Zhang, Yuanshu Zou, Raouf S. Amin

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Objectives: The presence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is known to impact long-term cardiovascular morbidity in adults; however, the long-term effects in children are poorly understood. We aimed to systematically review and synthesize studies published to date on the long-term effects of SDB in children.

Study Design: Meta-analysis and systematic review using PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus (all indexed years).

Methods: We searched for English-language articles containing original human data from prospective studies, with ≥7 participants, in children ≤18 years of age. Data regarding study design, demographics, clinical characteristics, outcomes, level of evidence, and risk of bias were obtained. Articles …

Age-Related Effect Of Viral-Induced Wheezing In Severe Prematurity, Geovanny F. Perez, Amisha Jain, Bassem Kurdi, Rosemary Megalaa, Krishna Pancham, Shehlanoor Huseni, Natalia Isaza, Carlos E. Rodriguez-Martinez, Mary C. Rose, Dinesh Pillai, Gustavo Nino

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Abstract: Premature children are prone to severe viral respiratory infections in early life, but the age at which susceptibility peaks and disappears for each pathogen is unclear. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of the age distribution and clinical features of acute viral respiratory infections in full-term and premature children, aged zero to seven years. Results: The study comprised of a total of 630 hospitalizations (n = 580 children). Sixty-seven percent of these hospitalizations occurred in children born full-term (> 37 weeks), 12% in preterm (32–37 weeks) and 21% in severely premature children (< 32 weeks). The most common viruses identified were rhinovirus (RV; 60%) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV; 17%). Age-distribution analysis of each virus identified that severely premature children had a higher relative frequency of RV and RSV in their first three years, relative to preterm or full-term children. Additionally, the probability of RV- or RSV-induced wheezing was higher overall in severely premature children less than three years old. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the …