Abstract
Respiratory viral infections represent the leading cause of hospitalization in infants and young children worldwide and the second leading cause of infant mortality. Among these, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) represents the main cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in young children worldwide. RSV manifestation can range widely from mild upper respiratory infections to severe respiratory infections, mainly bronchiolitis and pneumonia, leading to hospitalization, serious complications (such as respiratory failure), and relevant sequalae in childhood and adulthood (wheezing, asthma, and hyperreactive airways). There are no specific clinical signs or symptoms that can distinguish RSV infection from other respiratory pathogens. New multiplex platforms offer the possibility to simultaneously identify different pathogens, including RSV, with an accuracy similar to that of single polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the majority of cases. At present, the treatment of RSV infection relies on supportive therapy, mainly consisting of oxygen and hydration. Palivizumab is the only prophylactic method available for RSV infection. Advances in technology and scientific knowledge have led to the creation of different kinds of vaccines and drugs to treat RSV infection. Despite the good level of these studies, there are currently few registered strategies to prevent or treat RSV due to difficulties related to the unpredictable nature of the disease and to the specific target population.
Highlights
Respiratory viral infections represent the leading cause of hospitalization in infants and young children worldwide and are the second leading cause of infant mortality [1,2]
This review aims to gather state-of-the-art information about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection in children, RSV pneumonia
We found 23 active clinical trials on RSV prophylaxis and treatment, 10 of which are in the recruitment phase
Summary
Respiratory viral infections represent the leading cause of hospitalization in infants and young children worldwide and are the second leading cause of infant mortality [1,2]. As RSV infections and their related problems represent a global burden worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) created a surveillance programme similar to that of influenza infection in 2017, with the aim of better understanding the incidence, seasonality, and regional patterns of this infection and the clinical aspects that lead to hospitalization This programme has already entered phase II, which is planned to last until the end of 2021 [14,42]. RSV can cause symptomatic reinfection throughout life, even in subjects with healthy and mature immune systems These infections can appear every two or three years, with different clinical admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), the authors observed 20% P-ARDS among these subjects, who were younger than those with a milder presentation and had comorbidities [81]. For some less recent tests, it might take longer to obtain results [78,93,97,98]
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