Sero-prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children (0-5 years) attending institute of child health Banzazzau Zaria Kaduna State

Serological survey was carried out among children attending Institute of Child Health (ICH) Banzazzau Zaria Kaduna, State, to determine the prevalence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus IgM antibodies. Ninety-one blood samples of children aged 0-5years were collected in one outpatient clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria (ICH Banzazzau). Respiratory syncytial virus IgM antibody level was measured using commercial ELISA kit obtained from DIAGNOSTIC AUTOMATION, INC. Of the ninety-one blood samples collected and tested, 43(47.3%) were seropositive for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. There was male predominance, with 23 (25.3%) being positive compared in females 20 (22.0%) although, the difference was not statistically significant (P value >0.05).The seroprevalence was highest (15.4%) among infants 0-1year and lowest (5.5%) among 3 years old children..The association between RSV infection and respiratory symptoms was not statistically significant. Every child who showed seropositivity with the Respiratory Syncytial Virus had fever and no child without a fever was diagnosed positive with the virus. This study has revealed that children aged 0-5 years have high prevalence of RSV Infection in Zaria, and therefore, highlighting the need for the younger age group to be targeted for prevention programme against RSV infection. Keywords: Serology, Banzazzau, Zaria, Kaduna state, blood samples, IgM, antibodies, Respirtory Syncitial Virus (RSV)