Review of epidemiology and clinical risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the most frequent reason for hospitalization of infants in developed countries. Premature birth without or, especially, with chronic lung disease of prematurity, congenital heart disease, and T-cell immunodeficiency are conditions that predispose to more severe forms of RSV infection. Incomplete development of the airway, damage to the airway, and airway hyperreactivity underlie the increased morbidity of RSV infection in prematurely born infants. Pulmonary hypertension and cyanosis are associated with worse outcomes in infants with congenital heart disease, and prolonged viral replication accounts for more severe illness in immunocompromised individuals.
Welliver
Robert C
RC
Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Buffalo, New York 14222, USA. rwelliver@upa.chob.edu
D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index