Respiratory Syncytial Virus Research Paper
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that causes respiratory tract infections. The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), discovered in 1956, is capable of causing a broad spectrum of illnesses. In 1956, Morris and colleagues initially isolated RSV from chimpanzees with upper respiratory tract (URT) infections as the causative agent of most epidemic bronchiolitis cases. Subsequently, Channock et al (1956) associated this agent with bronchiolitis and lower respiratory tract (LRT) infection in infants. Since then, multiple epidemiologic studies have confirmed the role of this virus as the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. (Lancet, 1999)
Respiratory syncytial …show more content…
Of the different nucleic acid amplification techniques, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was the first and most frequently used nucleic acid-based assay
TREATMENT
This is mainly limited to supportive care, including oxygen therapy. For mild RSV infections, treatment is aimed at making the person comfortable and this includes:
For fever and pain --Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil)
Drinking lots of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Bed rest.
A humidifier to soothe the throat and nose and possibly relieve cough.
Saline (salt water) nose drops.
A bulb syringe to gently loosen mucus blocking a child 's or infant 's nose.
Infants and younger children with severe RSV infection may need to be hospitalized. In the hospital, the infant or child may receive oxygen, fluids (by vein) and medications to help him or her breathe easier (CDC, 2008).
Ribavirin can also be administered in aerosol form. Ribavirin is an anti-viral medication that on rare occasions is used to treat the most severe RSV infections. However, it has not been shown to help that much due to difficulty in administering and it`s very …show more content…
(2009). "The Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Young Children". New England Journal of Medicine 360 (6): 588–98.
Handforth, J.; Sharland, M; Friedland, J.S. (2004). "Prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants". BMJ 328 (7447): 1026–7.
Henderson, F.W., Collier, A.M., Clyde, W.A., Denny, F.W. (1979) Respiratory-syncytial-virus infections, reinfections and immunity. A prospective, longitudinal study in young children. New England Journal of Medicine; 300: 530-4.
Holman, R.C. (2004) Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalizations among American Indian and Native Alaskan Infants and the General United States Infant Population. Paediatrics. 114(4): 437-44.
Hornsleth, A., Friis, B., Andersen, P., Brenoe, E. (1982) Detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal secretions by ELISA: comparison with fluorescent antibody technique. Journal of Medical Virology; 10: 273-81.
Johnston, S.L., Siegel, C.S. (1990) Evaluation of direct immunofluorescence, enzyme immunoassay, centrifugation culture, and conventional culture for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus. Journal of Clinical Microbiology; 28:
INTRODUCTION
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that causes respiratory tract infections. The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), discovered in 1956, is capable of causing a broad spectrum of illnesses. In 1956, Morris and colleagues initially isolated RSV from chimpanzees with upper respiratory tract (URT) infections as the causative agent of most epidemic bronchiolitis cases. Subsequently, Channock et al (1956) associated this agent with bronchiolitis and lower respiratory tract (LRT) infection in infants. Since then, multiple epidemiologic studies have confirmed the role of this virus as the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. (Lancet, 1999)
Respiratory syncytial …show more content…
Of the different nucleic acid amplification techniques, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was the first and most frequently used nucleic acid-based assay
TREATMENT
This is mainly limited to supportive care, including oxygen therapy. For mild RSV infections, treatment is aimed at making the person comfortable and this includes:
For fever and pain --Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil)
Drinking lots of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Bed rest.
A humidifier to soothe the throat and nose and possibly relieve cough.
Saline (salt water) nose drops.
A bulb syringe to gently loosen mucus blocking a child 's or infant 's nose.
Infants and younger children with severe RSV infection may need to be hospitalized. In the hospital, the infant or child may receive oxygen, fluids (by vein) and medications to help him or her breathe easier (CDC, 2008).
Ribavirin can also be administered in aerosol form. Ribavirin is an anti-viral medication that on rare occasions is used to treat the most severe RSV infections. However, it has not been shown to help that much due to difficulty in administering and it`s very …show more content…
(2009). "The Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Young Children". New England Journal of Medicine 360 (6): 588–98.
Handforth, J.; Sharland, M; Friedland, J.S. (2004). "Prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants". BMJ 328 (7447): 1026–7.
Henderson, F.W., Collier, A.M., Clyde, W.A., Denny, F.W. (1979) Respiratory-syncytial-virus infections, reinfections and immunity. A prospective, longitudinal study in young children. New England Journal of Medicine; 300: 530-4.
Holman, R.C. (2004) Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalizations among American Indian and Native Alaskan Infants and the General United States Infant Population. Paediatrics. 114(4): 437-44.
Hornsleth, A., Friis, B., Andersen, P., Brenoe, E. (1982) Detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal secretions by ELISA: comparison with fluorescent antibody technique. Journal of Medical Virology; 10: 273-81.
Johnston, S.L., Siegel, C.S. (1990) Evaluation of direct immunofluorescence, enzyme immunoassay, centrifugation culture, and conventional culture for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus. Journal of Clinical Microbiology; 28: