Efficacy of ribavirin aerosol treatment for respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in infants.
The therapeutic efficacy of ribavirin, an anti-viral agent with a broad spectrum of activity, was studied in 14 infants with bronchiolitis which, in seven cases, was caused by a respiratory syncytial virus infection. The drug was administered for 5-6 days using an aerosol in periods of either 4 or 6 h with an interval of either 4 or 2 h between administrations. The body temperature of patients with fever returned to normal by day 3 of therapy. A significant decrease in the respiratory rate occurred by day 2 when there was also a marked improvement in the subjective and objective symptomatology. The most significant clinical improvements occurred in infants presenting a respiratory syncytial virus antigen in nasal wash specimens. This suggests therapeutic selectivity by ribavirin for (or a more pronounced sensibility of) this virus.
D000336:Aerosols; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012263:Ribonucleosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000336:Aerosols; D012263:Ribonucleosides; D012254:Ribavirin