Study Comparing Early Versus Later Infant Exposure to RSV and Its Impact on Immunity and Long-Term Respiratory Health

What this Trial Is About

Respiratory Syncytial Virus RSV is a leading cause of respiratory illness and death in infants worldwide. This research aims to explore how early natural exposure to RSV before 4 months of age compares to later exposure between 6 to 9 months in infancy, focusing on immune responses and long-term health effects such as childhood asthma. The study follows infants born in specific months to understand the timing impact of first RSV infection. The study observes two groups of infants those born in April to June expected to encounter RSV after 6 to 9 months, and those born in September to November expected to be exposed before 4 months. It is a prospective, observational cohort study involving 300 parent-infant pairs. Various biospecimens including blood samples, nasal and oral swabs, stool samples, and vaginal swabs from birthing parents are collected at multiple time points to study immune responses, microbiome evolution, and RSV infection markers. Participants are involved from birth through 3 years of age, completing questionnaires about pregnancy, respiratory symptoms, medication, and feeding practices. RSV infection is monitored via parent diaries and nasal swabs during respiratory seasons. Hospital records are reviewed for RSV-related events. The main outcomes measured include RSV antibody levels after the RSV season and asthma symptoms at age 3. Secondary outcomes track medically attended RSV infections and wheezing episodes throughout the first three years.

Infant RSV Immunity Study