Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Ville Peltola, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Finland,
- Second opponent: Professor Kari Risnes, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology,
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate Professor Hans Christian Erichsen Landsverk, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Trygve Holmøy, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Christopher Stephen Inchley, Consultant, PhD, Akershus universitetssykehus
Summary
Paediatric hospitalisations due to viral lower respiratory tract infections (VLRTI) are an economic burden to society and a psychosocial burden to children and their families. Treatment for VLRTI is mainly supportive, and many hospitalisations for VLRTI are unnecessary as children are hospitalised for observation only. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the number one leading viral agent causing VLRTI in small children. The potential for RSV prevention is growing as new pharmacological agents are under development.
This thesis aimed to identify children in need of medical treatment for VLRTI. Both the children who could benefit from prophylaxis and those in need of treatment once infected. Our findings from suggest that unnecessary VLRTI admissions can safely be reduced through the implementation of guidelines. Further, our findings suggest that future prophylactic measures for RSV disease would be most beneficial for the very youngest children below three months of age, and children living with older siblings. In addition, we found that children with comorbidities had high incidence rates RSV hospitalization and increased risk for severe disease once hospitalised.
This thesis aimed to identify children in need of medical treatment for VLRTI. Both the children who could benefit from prophylaxis and those in need of treatment once infected. Our findings from suggest that unnecessary VLRTI admissions can safely be reduced through the implementation of guidelines. Further, our findings suggest that future prophylactic measures for RSV disease would be most beneficial for the very youngest children below three months of age, and children living with older siblings. In addition, we found that children with comorbidities had high incidence rates RSV hospitalization and increased risk for severe disease once hospitalised.
Additional information
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