Early ribavarin treatment of bronchiolitis: effect on long-term respiratory morbidity.
BACKGROUND
The mortality rate from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis has significantly reduced over the last decade. A major concern now is the long-term respiratory morbidity following RSV bronchiolitis.


METHODS
In this prospective study, we randomly assigned 49 previously healthy infants with severe RSV bronchiolitis, early in the course of illness (< 5 days duration), to receive either conservative treatment (n = 21) or additional ribavirin treatment (n = 24). Both groups were closely matched for age and clinical characteristics.


RESULTS
During a prospective, closely monitored, 1-year follow-up period, the group treated with ribavirin had significantly fewer episodes (2.7 +/- 2.3 episodes vs 6.4 +/- 4.2 episodes per patient per year) and reduced severity of reactive airway disease (0.08 episodes vs 1.09 episodes of moderate-to-severe illness per patient per year) and respiratory illness-related hospitalization (25 hospital days vs 90 hospital days per 100 patients per year).


CONCLUSIONS
Early ribavirin treatment of RSV bronchiolitis in previously healthy infants resulted in reduction of incidence and severity of reactive airway disease as well as respiratory illness-related hospitalization.
Edell
Dean
D
West Jefferson Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Khoshoo
Vikram
V
Ross
Gerald
G
Salter
Karen
K
D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate
D012254:Ribavirin