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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 11, 2013
Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Update on Infection, Treatment, and Prevention
1Pediatric Infectious Disease, Winthrop University Hospital, 200 Old Country Road - Suite 440, Mineola, NY 11501.
Insights
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe respiratory infections in infants, leading to over 100,000 hospitalizations annually. Current treatments are supportive, with palivizumab offering passive protection for high-risk infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children.
- RSV infection leads to over 100,000 pediatric hospitalizations annually in the U.S.
- High-risk infants include those who are premature or have chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, immunodeficiency, metabolic, or neuromuscular disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the clinical manifestations, risk factors, treatment, prevention, and current research regarding respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in pediatric populations.
- To highlight the significant public health impact of RSV, particularly in vulnerable infant populations.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on RSV epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management strategies.
- Analysis of treatment modalities including supportive care, bronchodilators, antiviral therapy, and passive immunization.
- Discussion of preventive measures and ongoing vaccine development for RSV.
Main Results:
- RSV infection commonly presents as bronchiolitis or pneumonia, necessitating supportive care like oxygen and fluids.
- Bronchodilators and aerosolized ribavirin are used for specific patient subsets.
- Palivizumab provides passive protection against severe RSV in high-risk infants.
- No active RSV vaccine is currently available, but several are in development.
Conclusions:
- RSV remains a leading cause of severe respiratory illness in infants, underscoring the need for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
- Supportive care and passive immunization with palivizumab are current key interventions for high-risk infants.
- Ongoing vaccine development holds promise for future active immunization against RSV.
Abstract:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, which primarily manifests as bronchiolitis or pneumonia, is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. It is associated with more than 100,000 pediatric hospitalizations each year in the United States. Infants who were premature; have chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, or immunodeficiency disorders; or have underlying metabolic or neuromuscular disorders are at increased risk for especially severe RSV disease. Treatment of children hospitalized with RSV disease is primarily supportive, with administration of supplemental oxygen and fluid replacement therapy. Bronchodilators may benefit at least a subset of such patients. Antiviral therapy with aerosolized ribavirin is available for high-risk, severely ill patients. Handwashing, cleaning of environmental surfaces, and cohorting in hospital settings may decrease RSV transmission. In children born premature and younger than 1 year of age, and in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia younger than 2 years of age, passive protection against severe RSV disease may be achieved through monthly injections of anti-RSV antibody (palivizumab) during winter months. No vaccine is available to provide active immunity against RSV, but live attenuated and subunit cloned surface protein vaccines are in development.
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