title: Respiratory viral infections in adults.
abstract: Respiratory viral infections in adults cause significant morbidity and mortality, especially in high-risk patients. The impact of influenza virus, rhinoviruses, and respiratory syncytial virus in immunocompromised cancer patients and in asthma and chronic bronchitis patients has been documented in recent publications. Cytomegalovirus pneumonia continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients. Newer rapid diagnostic tests and the use of polymerase chain reaction technology have provided better understanding of the causes and epidemiology of acute respiratory illness in adults. The approved neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza viruses and the nonapproved capsid inhibitors of rhinoviruses may be useful in treating high-risk individuals. The inactivated influenza vaccine has been shown to benefit healthy adults and to be safe in asthmatic adults and children.
authors: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Medicine Service, Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. stepheng@bcm.tmc.edu
authors: Stephen B
authors: SB
authors: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003139:Common Cold / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003587:Cytomegalovirus; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012229:Rhinovirus; D012307:Risk Factors; D014765:Viral Vaccines
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014765:Viral Vaccines