How RSV Hospital Stays Hit Families and Health Systems Hard

A Major Concern for Kids Under Two

RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus, is a significant health risk for children under two. It is a leading cause of hospitalizations in young children. A recent study examined the effects of RSV hospitalizations on families and healthcare systems in five European countries: Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and England.

Key Findings

• Age and Health of Hospitalized Children
• Most children hospitalized with RSV were under six months old.

• Many were healthy before contracting the virus.

• Hospital Stay Duration
• The average hospital stay lasted six days.

• Some children required intensive care.

• Cost of Hospitalization
• The average cost per hospital stay was €4,266.
• Costs varied significantly by country:
• Lowest: €2,377

• Highest: €8,541

• Impact on Caregivers
• Over half of working caregivers missed work due to their child's hospitalization.

• On average, caregivers missed 30 hours of work per hospital stay.

• Quality of Life for Children
• Children experienced a significant decline in quality of life during hospitalization.
• Lung function was particularly affected.

Conclusion

RSV hospitalizations present a major challenge:

• High financial costs for healthcare systems.
• Disruption to family life and income.
• Negative impact on children's health and well-being.

These findings underscore the importance of preventing severe RSV infections in young children.