Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Introduction

Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, in infants and young children. Every year, hospitals in United States receive and treat 125,000 cases of infants and young children suffering from Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Children under 6 weeks of age are most at the risk of developing a severe disease especially the children who are already suffering from congenital heart disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, immunodeficiency and those who are born premature. The rate of admission into hospitals for these children range between 5% and 30%, while the mortality rate among the children who are admitted for the treatment of such cases is nearly 3% for the children with lung and heart issues and approximately up to 1% for the infants and young children with no such risk factors (Taylor, 2007).

Although, research aimed at the prevention and effective treatment of RSV infection has been rigorously carried out in many countries for almost 40 years, vaccine development is a difficult task and till now, there exists no vaccine that has been approved clinically, leaving an increasing number of infants and young children at the risk of being affected from the virus. This paper aims at exploring the different aspects related to the prevention and treatment of RSV while reviewing the relevant literature in order to support the problem and the purpose outlined in the previous paper. The paper will also outline a theory aimed at proposing the solution to the problem associated with the RSV infections.

Discussion

Literature Review

Determination of Risk

RSV mainly infects the epithelial cells of the nasopharynx in humans, but can also severely affect other cell types, including cell lines, but with a much lower efficiency. The infection can lead to the formation of syncytium in the infected cell. Primary infection caused by the RSV can usually result in showing a lower respiratory disease, bronchiolitis, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia or an upper respiratory disease. Common clinical symptoms include sneezing, rhinorrhea, pharyngitis, headache, coughing, bronchitis, fatigue and fever. In some cases, otitis media can occur. RSV infections usually occur in the form of upper respiratory disease, which tends to develop into a disease affecting the lower respiratory tract (in about 50% of cases). A serious infection (with pneumonia) may occur in elderly patients with underlying respiratory problems. Children and immunocompromised individuals are more likely to have a severe form of the disease (Cane, 2007).

RSV has worldwide presence and is the most important cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants and young children. In United States, 125,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths each year are attributed to Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection. Respiratory Syncytial Virus is also the leading causes of nosocomial infections. The mortality and morbidity are highest among children with underlying disease or persons with immunodeficiency or immunosuppression. Almost all children are infected before the age of 2 to 3 years with even the greater risk under 6 weeks of age. Moreover, repeated infections are a common occurrence, with up to ...