title: Prematurity and the burden of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory morbidity of former preterm infants and especially those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is high during infancy and early childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a review based on a literature search including EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CINAHL databases to identify all relevant papers published in the English and German literature on influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infection associated with preterm infant, prematurity, and BPD between 1980 and 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recurrent respiratory symptoms remain common at preschool age, school age and even into young adulthood. Acute viral respiratory tract infections due to different pathogens cause significant morbidity and necessitate rehospitalizations during the first years of life. Influenza virus infection plays a minor role compared to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated respiratory tract infection during infancy and early childhood. Nevertheless, particular morbidity to both viruses is high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The particular burden of both viral diseases in preterm infants is dominated by RSV and its associated rehospitalizations during the first two years of life. Prophylactic measures include vaccination against influenza virus of family members and caregivers and active immunization starting at the age of 6 months, and monthly injections of palivizumab during the cold season to avoid severe RSV disease and its sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for Neonatal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. bernhard.resch@medunigraz.at.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for Neonatal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurath-Koller
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for Neonatal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eibisberger
authors.affiliation: Research Unit for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zenz
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: bronchopulmonary dysplasia; influenza; preterm infant; respiratory infectious disease; respiratory syncytial virus