title: Respiratory syncytial virus infection in adults.
abstract: Originally considered as only a paediatric pathogen, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has recently been shown to be a significant cause of respiratory illness among elderly and high-risk adults. Approximately 170,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths associated with RSV occur annually in people over the age of 65 years in the United States. Although rhinorrhoea and wheezing are common symptoms among adults, the clinical syndrome associated with RSV is not distinctive and thus laboratory methods are required for specific diagnosis. Presently, the combination of reverse transcription PCR and enzyme immunoassay serology offers the best sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of RSV. Treatment options are limited at present, with inhaled ribavirin being the only licensed drug for use in hospitalized children. Vaccines against RSV remain an unachieved goal. Promising new agents that inhibit the virus-cell fusion, cell-cell fusion, or viral gene expression are currently in development.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester General Hospital, New York, USA. Yoshihiko.Murata@viahealth.org
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Ann R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Falsey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents