Abstract
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a negative sense single-stranded RNA virus
that can result in epidemics of seasonal respiratory infections. Generally, one of
the two genotypes (A and B) predominates in a single season and alternate annually
with regional variation. RSV is a known cause of disease and death at both extremes
of ages in the pediatric and elderly, as well as immunocompromised populations. The
clinical impact of RSV on the hospitalized adults has been recently clarified with
the expanded use of multiplex molecular assays. Among adults, RSV can produce a wide
range of clinical symptoms due to upper respiratory tract infections potentially leading
to severe lower respiratory tract infections, as well as exacerbations of underlying
cardiac and lung diseases. While supportive care is the mainstay of therapy, there
are currently multiple therapeutic and preventative options under development.
Keywords
respiratory syncytial virus - ribavirin - palivizumab - presatovir - vaccine - pneumonia
