Abstract
We prospectively studied in′74-′80 winters 353 children 3-5 yr old hospitalized with culture proven RSV to compare IC to normals (N). 30 were potentially IC: 13(group M) were on chemotherapy for malignancy or had immunodeficiency disease(ImD)(3); 17 in Group S were on steroids for 2mo-3 yr for non-malignant conditions. Their RSV illness is compared to 323 N(Table). In M most were nosocomial with lower respiratory disease(LRD) in all, even 3-5 yr olds (RSV from lung in 1), vs only ≤2yr olds in S and N. RSV shedding patterns(Table) from sequential nasal washes of M and S were compared to N, matched for age and disease. M had significantly greater titers & longer shedding. S also shed more virus than N. These findings suggest that immunosuppression for malignancy or ImD predisposes to more severe RSV illness and greater viral replication. Steroid treatment alone in other diseases may have allowed greater shedding initially but did not appear to result in more severe RSV illness.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
