[Infections caused by respiratory viruses and the possibility of controlling them]

Respiratory viruses are pathogens that the most commonly cause infectious diseases in human beings. This is connected with the specificity of how the infection occurs and because of this, the feasibility of the wide dissemination of disease in the general population. Places that are especially conducive to spread of respiratory viruses are areas where the population density is increased--in this way the virus can quickly become a dominate health problem. The WHO has included respiratory infections as the second most common cause of death among children up to the age of 5. Cases of severe infection, especially those caused by the influenza virus, usually occurs in high-risk groups, namely infants, the elderly or in people whose immune system is insufficient. Illness caused by respiratory viruses may be further complicated by various types of co-infections with other viruses or bacteria. Only in the case of influenza we are able to utilise preventative vaccinations as well as anti-influenza drugs.