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Viruses
Volume 18
Issue 1
10.3390/v18010060
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Article

Clinical Burden and Healthcare Utilization Associated with Hospitalizations of RSV-Infected Polish Children During the 2022/23 Season

by
Jan Mazela
1,2,*,
Teresa Jackowska
3,
Marcin Czech
4,
Ewa Helwich
5,
Oliver Martyn
6,
Pawel Aleksiejuk
7,
Anna Smaga
8,9,
Andrzej Tkacz
8,
Joanna Glazewska
8 and
Jacek Wysocki
10
1
Department of Neonatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, 60-535 Poznań, Poland
2
Department of Pediatrics, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland
3
Department of Pediatrics, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
4
Department of Pharmacoeconomics, Hospital Infection Control Team, Institute of Mother and Child, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland
5
Department of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care, Institute of Mother and Child, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland
6
Sanofi A/S, Vaccines Medical Affairs, DK-2100 København, Denmark
7
Sanofi Sp. z. o. o., Vaccines Medical Affairs, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland
8
PEX Sp. z o. o., 02-796 Warsaw, Poland
9
National Institute of Public Health NIH—National Research Institute, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland
10
Department of Preventive Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences at Poznan, 61-701 Poznan, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Viruses 2026, 18(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/v18010060 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 2 November 2025 / Revised: 19 December 2025 / Accepted: 23 December 2025 / Published: 30 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Human Virology and Viral Diseases)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of lower respiratory tract illness and hospitalizations in children aged ≤ 5 years worldwide. The aim of this study was to characterize the Polish population of patients aged ≤ 5 years who were hospitalized due to RSV infection, focusing on their clinical and epidemiological characteristics as well as treatment patterns. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted between November 2023 and February 2024 in 41 hospitals with pediatric departments across Poland. Data from patients aged ≤ 5 years admitted due to RSV infection confirmed with antigen test or RT-PCR were collected. The dataset was weighted and extrapolated to allow conclusions applicable to the general population of patients aged 0–5 years hospitalized with RSV infection in Poland. Results: Data from 419 patients were analyzed. Over half (57.4%) were younger than 12 months, 84% were born at term, and 85.8% had no comorbidities. The most frequent manifestations of RSV infections were pneumonia (56.8%), bronchiolitis (35.9%), and bronchitis (12.4%). Viral co-infections were identified in 8% of patients. Regarding treatment, 21.1% of patients required respiratory support, 67.6% received inhaled steroid therapy, 61.5% were treated with antibiotics, 48.1% received beta2-mimetics and anticholinergics, and 44.3% underwent systemic steroid therapy. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that severe RSV primarily affects the youngest children with no comorbidities who do not present high risk conditions. To reduce the overall disease burden, preventive strategies should be offered to all children, not being limited to those in risk groups.
Keywords: respiratory syncytial virus; RSV; infection; epidemiology; children; prevention respiratory syncytial virus; RSV; infection; epidemiology; children; prevention

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MDPI and ACS Style

Mazela, J.; Jackowska, T.; Czech, M.; Helwich, E.; Martyn, O.; Aleksiejuk, P.; Smaga, A.; Tkacz, A.; Glazewska, J.; Wysocki, J. Clinical Burden and Healthcare Utilization Associated with Hospitalizations of RSV-Infected Polish Children During the 2022/23 Season. Viruses 2026, 18, 60. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18010060

AMA Style

Mazela J, Jackowska T, Czech M, Helwich E, Martyn O, Aleksiejuk P, Smaga A, Tkacz A, Glazewska J, Wysocki J. Clinical Burden and Healthcare Utilization Associated with Hospitalizations of RSV-Infected Polish Children During the 2022/23 Season. Viruses. 2026; 18(1):60. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18010060

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mazela, Jan, Teresa Jackowska, Marcin Czech, Ewa Helwich, Oliver Martyn, Pawel Aleksiejuk, Anna Smaga, Andrzej Tkacz, Joanna Glazewska, and Jacek Wysocki. 2026. "Clinical Burden and Healthcare Utilization Associated with Hospitalizations of RSV-Infected Polish Children During the 2022/23 Season" Viruses 18, no. 1: 60. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18010060

APA Style

Mazela, J., Jackowska, T., Czech, M., Helwich, E., Martyn, O., Aleksiejuk, P., Smaga, A., Tkacz, A., Glazewska, J., & Wysocki, J. (2026). Clinical Burden and Healthcare Utilization Associated with Hospitalizations of RSV-Infected Polish Children During the 2022/23 Season. Viruses, 18(1), 60. https://doi.org/10.3390/v18010060

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