German Clinical Trials Register

Acronym/abbreviation of the study

RSVoC

URL of the study

No Entry

Brief summary in lay language

During SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, social life was largely shut down. Several lockdown periods took place, during, and children lived with increased hygiene measures and had only few contacts. The predominant virus causing respiratory infections was SARS-CoV-2, but starting in September 2021, there was an increased emergence of another virus causing respiratory infections in children: the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is one of the most common pathogens of lower respiratory tract infections in children and can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia, especially in high-risk groups, where hospitalization is often indicated due to respiratory failure and the need of oxygen therapy. Currently, diagnosis of RSV infection requires a throat swab, which is very uncomfortable, especially for young children, and causes additional stress to already sensitive children due to coughing or gagging. We would now like to establish new diagnostic methods based on the detection of certain odorous substances, the so-called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They are produced during various processes in the body and are released via sweat, exhaled air and stool/urine. In the future, it should be possible to make a rapid and non-invasive diagnosis of RSV and other respiratory tract infections using the "electronic nose" method or ion mobility spectrometry (IMS): the methods can detect odor patterns and changes in the odor pattern that are typical of diseases. They could be used in the future as a screening device for RSV infections and other respiratory infections. For the corresponding analyses, children exhale into a bag, and we also collect saliva samples/sputum as well as stool and urine. We collect sweat from under the armpits, neck and forehead with a swab. The analyses are performed in the research laboratory for general Pediatrics and Neonatology at Saarland University.

Brief summary in scientific language

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, social life was largely shut down. There were several lockdown periods when the population, including children, lived under increased hygiene measures and had only few social contacts. Now, since September 2021, after a period when almost only SARS-CoV-2 was detectable as a respiratory virus, an increased incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in children has become noticeable. RSV is one of the most common pathogen of lower respiratory tract infections in children and can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Especially in high-risk groups children need to hospitalized because of an increased risk of apnea and the need of oxygen therapy. To diagnose RSV infections, a nasopharyngeal swab is currently necessary, which is very uncomfortable, especially for young children, and is a stressor for the already sensitive children due to coughing or gagging. In order to optimize this problem in the future, we would like to establish innovative diagnostic procedures based on the detection of certain odorous substances, the so-called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They are produces during various processes in the body and are released via sweat, exhaled air and excrements. By means of electronic nose or Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS), a rapid and non-invasive RSV diagnosis should be possible in the future: the electronic nose can detect odor patterns. With the IMS, it is even possible to determine individual substances and to identify biomarkers for diseases. We want to investigate if there are disease-specific changes in the odor pattern („VOC profile“) and if they can be used as a screening device for RSV infections and other respiratory infections in the future. For the corresponding analyses, children exhale into a bag, and we also collect saliva samples/sputum as well as stool and urine. We collect sweat from under the armpits, neck and forehead with a swab. The analyses are performed in the research laboratory for general Pediatrics and Neonatology at Saarland University.