RSV lower respiratory tract infection and lung health in the first 2 years of life

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and hospitalisation in children worldwide. It has been estimated that in 2015 there were 33·1 million RSV-associated LRTI episodes in children under 5 years old, including 3·2 million hospitalisations, and 118 000 deaths; with approximately 45% of all hospitalisations and in-hospital deaths occurring among infants under 6 months of age.1 Although it is estimated that low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) account for over 90% of the global RSV burden estimates in children, data from these settings is scarce.