Effects of a severe RS infection in the first year of life on childhood health and quality of life

98% of children have had an infection with the respiratory tract syncytial
virus (RSV) at the age of 2 years. The RS virus causes infections of the
respiratory tract, including nose, throat, trachea and lungs. Depending on the
severity of the infection, symptoms range from a cold to
a severe respiratory distress. A small part of the children (10%) needs
hospitalization for the treatment of a bronchiolitis or pneumonitis with RSV as
the causative agent. These children have a 30% higher risk of asthma-like
symptoms such as wheezing and have often poor lung function at school age. It
is unclear whether RSV affects the development of asthma or whether children
with asthmatic predisposition
are at risk for a more severe course of RSV bronchiolitis. A follow-up at the
age of 6 years or older will be carried out within the UMCG.
In 2012, we started a follow up program in which children with RSV
bronchiolitis who were admitted to the ICU were invited after 6 months for a
consultation with an infant lung function.

The aim of the study is to determine whether children who have been admitted to
the ICU for an RSV infection in their first year of life and now are at school
age:
1. have more respiratory complaints than controls (based on a short
questionnaire based on the ISAAC for 6/7 year olds)
2. are more to have asthma than the general population (ISAAC)
3. experience a comparable quality of life to controls (PedsQLTM questionnaire)
4. have an impaired lung function compared to healthy controls (Spirometry /
MBW / FeNO)
and whether
5. early lung function predicts school-age lung function.

observational with invasive test (reversibility with salbutamol)

Load up to 120 minutes for completing questionnaires and performing lung
function tests. No risk. The study cannot be performed in any other age
category. There is a chance that the lung function tests will show indications
of treatable conditions such as asthma.