Treatment of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis: 1995 poll of members of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases.
BACKGROUND
Among the lower respiratory tract infections during infancy requiring hospitalization, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is the most frequent disease entity. Nevertheless treatment remains controversial.


METHODS
A poll among the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) members was conducted to determine the respective local and national treatment policies of RSV bronchiolitis.


RESULTS
The questionnaire was returned by 88 centers represented in ESPID (response rate 64%). Ribavirin was used occasionally for high risk patients in 34 centers although 16 hospitals follow the guidelines of the Red Book Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics. There were no centers using ribavirin for all patients. Bronchodilator treatment was used universally in various combinations for all patients in 54 centers and for all high risk patients in 15. Corticosteroids were used by > 80% of ESPID colleagues in various combinations of administration routes.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of effective treatment for RSV bronchiolitis and the controversy in the literature concerning antiviral, bronchodilator and antiinflammatory therapy leads to inconsistent treatment strategies.
Kimpen
J L
JL
Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. j.l.l.kimpen@med.rug.nl
Schaad
U B
UB
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011050:Policy Making; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D012254:Ribavirin