RSV-Positive Children <5 Years Presenting to Pediatric Emergency Departments in Türkiye: TRUST-RSV

Eskisehir Osmangazi University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection; Pneumonia; Acute Bronchiolitis Due to Respiratory Syncytial Virus; Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07346963

TRUST-RSV-v001

2025-16

Details and patient eligibility

About

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children and contributes substantially to pediatric emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. In Türkiye, nationally representative prospective data describing the epidemiology, clinical spectrum, and resource utilization of RSV-positive children presenting to pediatric EDs remain limited. This multicenter prospective observational study aims to characterize demographic and clinical features of RSV-positive children under 5 years of age presenting to participating pediatric EDs across two consecutive RSV seasons, and to quantify key healthcare utilization outcomes, including ED observation duration, hospitalization, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Full description

This is a multicenter, prospective observational cohort study conducted in pediatric emergency departments in Türkiye over a consecutive RSV season. Eligible participants are children younger than 5 years who present to a participating pediatric ED with at least one compatible clinical diagnosis and have RSV infection confirmed by a nasopharyngeal sample using either a rapid antigen test or PCR, based on local site capacity. Written informed consent will be obtained from a parent or legal guardian prior to study procedures.

Standardized case report forms will be used to collect demographics (age, sex, region, socioeconomic indicators), relevant risk factors (e.g., prematurity, congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, passive smoke exposure, breastfeeding status), presenting symptoms, vital signs and physical examination findings, diagnostic evaluations (radiology and laboratory results as available), and clinical management and outcomes. Outcomes of interest include ED observation duration, disposition (discharge vs hospitalization), ICU admission, and, when applicable, the need for oxygen or ventilatory support. Data will be entered into a secure centralized database. The study will evaluate seasonal and regional patterns and will explore predictors of severe outcomes among RSV-positive children using multivariable models.

Enrollment: 4,000 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 28 days to 5 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age <5 years at presentation
• Presentation during RSV season (2025-2026 )
• RSV infection confirmed from a nasopharyngeal sample by rapid antigen test or PCR according to site capacity
• Presentation to a participating pediatric ED with at least one of the following clinical diagnoses: upper respiratory tract infection, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, apnea, seizure/convulsion, or myocarditis
• Written informed consent obtained from a parent or legal guardian.

Exclusion criteria

• Parent or legal guardian declines consent