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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

RSV

Treatment:

Antibiotics do not help in the treatment of RSV. Mild infections resolve without treatment. A severe infection in infants and children may require hospitalization to provide supplemental oxygen, humidified air, and hydration by intravenous fluids. Respiratory support may be needed, using a breathing machine (ventilator).

Your doctor will be the best judge as to what treatment to use. A medication to open the airways of the lungs (bronchodilator) is sometimes used. In very serious cases, antiviral drugs such as Ribavirin may be tried.

Expectations (prognosis):

RSV infection may rarely cause death in infants, but this is unlikely if the child is seen early in the course of the illness. In older children and adults, the disease will usually be quite mild. There is evidence suggesting an increased incidence of asthma in children who have developed RSV bronchiolitis. It is unknown whether the factors that predispose the child to asthma also predisposed him to developing bronchiolitis as an infant, or if the RSV bronchiolitis itself predisposes the child to develop asthma later.

Complications:

• ear infections
• pneumonia
• respiratory failure

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if breathing difficulties or other symptoms of this disorder appear. Any breathing difficulties in an infant should be regarded as an emergency and the appropriate help sought.

References:

Meissner HC, Long SS; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases and Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Revised indications for the use of palivizumab and respiratory syncytial virus immune globulin intravenous for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections. Pediatrics. 2003 Dec;112(6 Pt 1):1447-52.

• Review Date: 8/23/2005
• Reviewed By: John Goldenring, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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