TY - JOUR
T1 - Life-threatening respiratory syncytial virus disease in children
AU - Hennus, Marije P.
AU - Bem, Reinout A.
AU - Bos, Albert P.
AU - van Vught, Adrianus J.
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common viral cause of seasonal acute respiratory tract illness in very young children worldwide. In addition, life-threatening RSV disease accounts for the most frequent cause of non- elective pediatric intensive care unit admission for mechanical ventilatory support in infants during the winter season. This review article discusses factors associated with a life-threatening course of RSV disease as well as available therapeutic options and mortality rates. Pre-existing medical conditions, direct virus-induced cytopathology and host immunopathology, as well as co-factors such as bacterial and/or viral co-infection, apnea and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone are important features associated with turning a trivial community acquired upper respiratory tract illness into life-threatening disease. Although numerous medical therapies for life-threatening RSV have been suggested, the mainstay of therapy is still primarily supportive. Mortality rates of previously healthy children requiring mechanical ventilation for RSV-associated disease are almost zero, whereas mortality rates in infants with a pre-existent medical condition are up to 10%. © 2011 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
AB - Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common viral cause of seasonal acute respiratory tract illness in very young children worldwide. In addition, life-threatening RSV disease accounts for the most frequent cause of non- elective pediatric intensive care unit admission for mechanical ventilatory support in infants during the winter season. This review article discusses factors associated with a life-threatening course of RSV disease as well as available therapeutic options and mortality rates. Pre-existing medical conditions, direct virus-induced cytopathology and host immunopathology, as well as co-factors such as bacterial and/or viral co-infection, apnea and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone are important features associated with turning a trivial community acquired upper respiratory tract illness into life-threatening disease. Although numerous medical therapies for life-threatening RSV have been suggested, the mainstay of therapy is still primarily supportive. Mortality rates of previously healthy children requiring mechanical ventilation for RSV-associated disease are almost zero, whereas mortality rates in infants with a pre-existent medical condition are up to 10%. © 2011 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=79956273893&origin=inward
U2 - https://doi.org/10.2174/157339811795589513
DO - https://doi.org/10.2174/157339811795589513
M3 - Article
SN - 1573-398X
VL - 7
SP - 187
EP - 195
JO - Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews
JF - Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews
IS - 3
ER -