Human respiratory syncytial virus medical therapy

Supportive treatment is the mainstay of therapy for infections caused by human respiratory syncytial virus. Supportive care includes adequate hydration and supplemental oxygen therapy.

• Respiratory syncytial virus treatment

• Supportive therapy

• Hydration and supplemental oxygen.
• Routine use of Ribavirin not recommended. Ribavirin therapy associated with small increases in O2 saturation.
• No consistent decrease in need for mechanical ventilation or ICU stays. High cost, aerosol administration and potential toxicity^[1]
• Note (1): In adults, Respiratory syncytial virus accounted for 10.6% of hospitalizations for pneumonia, 11.4% for COPD, 7.2% for asthma & 5.4% for CHF in pts >65 yrs of age ^[2]. Respiratory syncytial virus caused 11% of clinically important respiratory illnesses in military recruits^[3]
• Note (2): Respiratory Syncytial Virus major cause of morbidity in neonates/infants.
• Note (3): Nucleic acid test now approved to detect 12 respiratory viruses (xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel, Luminex Molecular Diagnostics).

• Prevention of Respiratory syncytial virus

• 1. In children <24 months old with chronic lung disease of prematurity (formerly broncho-pulmonary dysplasia) requiring supplemental oxygen or
• 2. In premature infants (<32 wks gestation) and <6 months old at start of Respiratory syncytial virus season or
• 3. In children with selected congenital heart diseases.

• Preferred regimen for prevention of Respiratory syncytial virus: Palivizumab (Synagis) 15 mg per kg IM q month Nov.-April^[1]
• Note : Significant reduction in Respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization among children with congenital heart disease^[4]

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