RSV infections: State of the art

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common lower respiratory disease in infants and young children worldwide. Despite its long history, a safe and effective cure for RSV remains elusive. Nonetheless, further understanding of RSV pathogenesis and risk factors have led to advances in prophylaxis and management. The leading risk factor for RSV is premature birth, primarily because fewer protective antibodies are transmitted from the mother to the infant. For full-term born infants, susceptibility to RSV increases as maternal IgG titers decline to a nadir at 2 to 3 months of age. Because of the unique pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in this infection, it is likely that future treatment strategies will focus on modulating the host immune response to the virus, rather than virucidal or virustatic molecules.