Prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7447.1026

BMJ 2004;328:1026-1027 (1 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7447.1026

Editorial

Prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants

Palivizumab is effective but too expensive, and vaccines areunavailable as yet

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Bronchiolitis due to respiratory syncytial virus is predictable,occurring during the dark winter in temperate climates and therainy season in tropical countries. In the United Kingdom around20% of admissions for infections of the lower respiratory tractin children are due to respiratory syncytial virus. The annualincidence of hospital admissions related to respiratory syncytialvirus is 28.3 per 1000 for infants, and 1.3 per 1000 for childrenaged 1-4 years.¹ Interestingly, the number of laboratory reportsfor respiratory syncytial virus shows a marked downward trendin England and Wales from 1990 to 2003 (figures 1 and 2). Althoughchanges in clinical or laboratory practice may be an influence,data from primary care show a fall in acute respiratory infectionsover the same years.² This is fortunate, as treating respiratorysyncytial virus bronchiolitis remains a good example of therapeuticnihilism—nothing works except oxygen. Adrenaline, bronchodilators,steroids, and ribavirin . . . [Full text of this article]

Jenny Handforth, specialist registrar

Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, St George's Hospital, London SW17 0QT

Mike Sharland, consultant

(mike.sharland@stgeorges.nhs.uk), Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, St George's Hospital, London SW17 0QT

Jon S Friedland, professor

Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN

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This article has been cited by other articles:

Embleton, N D, Harkensee, C, Mckean, M C (2005). Palivizumab for preterm infants. Is it worth it?. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 90: F286-f289 [Abstract] [Full text]

Rapid Responses:

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But, if you want real protection, where should you look?: Hilary Butler
bmj.com, 3 May 2004 [Full text]
Re: But, if you want real protection, where should you look?: Sam Richmond
bmj.com, 4 May 2004 [Full text]
RSV: should we apply the guideline?: Marzia Lazzerini
bmj.com, 7 May 2004 [Full text]