Presumed respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia in an adolescent compromised host

A 15-year-old boy with nephrotic syndrome, renal insufficiency, and cutaneous anergy had severe pneumonia with pleural effusion. There was serologic evidence of respiratory syncytial virus infection, and extensive microbiologic, histologic, and serologic studies failed to identify any other etiologic agent. Respiratory syncytial virus as a possible cause of severe pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts has not been previously reported.