scholarly journals Prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections

2001 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Ferro Bricks
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ◽  
Passive Immunization ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Active Immunization ◽  
Infants And Children ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ◽  
Syncytial Virus

Respiratory syncytial virus is the most important cause of viral lower respiratory illness in infants and children worldwide. By the age of 2 years, nearly every child has become infected with respiratory syncytial virus and re-infections are common throughout life. Most infections are mild and can be managed at home, but this virus causes serious diseases in preterm children, especially those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Respiratory syncytial virus has also been recognized as an important pathogen in people with immunossupressive and other underlying medical problems and institutionalizated elderly, causing thousands of hospitalizations and deaths every year. The burden of these infections makes the development of vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus highly desirable, but the insuccess of a respiratory syncytial virus formalin-inactivated vaccine hampered the progress in this field. To date, there is no vaccine available for preventing respiratory syncytial virus infections, however, in the last years, there has been much progress in the understanding of immunology and immunopathologic mechanisms of respiratory syncytial virus diseases, which has allowed the development of new strategies for passive and active prophylaxis. In this article, the author presents a review about novel approaches to the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections, such as: passive immunization with human polyclonal intravenous immune globulin and humanized monoclonal antibodies (both already licensed for use in premature infants and children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia), and many different vaccines that are potential candidates for active immunization against respiratory syncytial virus.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Infants and Children: Diagnosis and Treatment

1987 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 191-196
Author(s):  
Kenneth McIntosh
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Infants And Children ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
In Infants And Children ◽  
Selection Of

Respiratory syncytial virus is the most important cause of acute viral pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants and children. Recent advances in diagnostic methods have put precise and rapid identification of cases within the capability of many hospital laboratories. Aerosolized ribavirin is now available for treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infections, and it should be used in selected instances, principally with the intent of preventing the necessity for intubation and ventilation. The criteria we use for selection of those patients include infants with underlying cardiopulmonary disease who are at high risk for severe disease, although normal infants occasionally deteriorate and should be considered candidates. With judicious use of laboratory techniques to make an accurate diagnosis and ribavirin treatment, the overall morbidity of respiratory syncytial virus infections should be significantly lessened.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Diseases

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinz-Josef Schmitt ◽  
Khrystyna Hrynkevych
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Passive Immunization ◽  
Active Immunization ◽  
F Protein ◽  
Hospitalization Rates ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Repeated Infections ◽  
Long Acting ◽  
Underlying Diseases

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an RNA virus that causes annual ARI outbreaks during winter with mild URTI in the general population, but with severe LRTI particularly among young children (bronchiolitis), patients with underlying diseases and people >65 years of age. RSV does not induce a long-lasting protective immunity and repeated infections throughout life are the norm. Basically, all children have been infected by 2 years of age and of those hospitalized, >50% are <3 months and 75% are <6 months of age. The overall CFR is 1/500. For adults ≥65 years, RSV hospitalization rates are 90–250/105. There is no specific therapy, general preventive measures include general hygiene and isolation/separation of patients. A monoclonal anti-F-protein antibody is available for passive immunization of selected high-risk children. It requires monthly injections, comes at a high cost and has limited efficacy (50% against RSV hospitalization). Active immunization failed in the past, probably as the post-fusion conformation of the F-protein was used. Long-acting monoclonal antibodies (for infants) as well as stabilized pre-fusion F-protein vaccines (for immunization of pregnant women, children, older adults) produced on various platforms are in late stages of clinical development.

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