A subgroup of the myxoviruses resembling paramyxovirus causes respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. RSV is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children; it's the major cause of pneumonia tracheobronchitis and bronchitis in this age-group and a suspected cause of the fatal respiratory diseases in infancy.
CAUSES
Antibody titers seem to indicate that few children under age 4 escape contracting some form of RSV, even if it's mild. In fact, RSV is the only viral disease that has its maximum impact during the first few months of life (incidence of RSV bronchitis peaks at age 2 months).
This virus creates annual epidemics that occur during the late winter and during the rainy season in the tropics. The organism is transmitted from person to person by respiratory secretions and has an incubation period of 4 to 5 days.
reinfection is common, producing milder symptoms than the primary infection. School-age children, adolescents and young adults with mild infection are probably the source of infection for infants and children.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Clinicl features of RSV infection vary in severity, ranging from mild coldlike symptoms ad bronchiolitis or bronchopneumonia and, in a few patients, severe, life-threatening lower respiratory tract infections. generally, symptoms include coughing, wheezing, malaise, pharyngitis, difficulty breathing, and inflamed mucus membranes in the nose and throat.
TREATMENT
among the goals of treatment are support of respiratory function, maintenance of fluid balance, and relief of symptoms.