Respiratory syncytial virus a global paediatric problem

The Lancet

www.thelancet.com

A virus that causes wheezing and pneumonia kills up to two hundred thousand children worldwide each year, researchers reported in a recent issue of The Lancet.

The research also revealed that about 3.4 million children require hospital treatment for severe lung infection caused by the virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

RSV, an infection occurring usually before the age of two, causes mild cold-like symptoms, but can lead to more serious illness in babies born prematurely or with congenital heart disease.

The study confirms that RSV is the single largest cause of lung infection in children.

It is also the first quantification of the total numbers of children dying globally from RSV before the age of five.

The investigators analysed unpublished data from developing countries as well as all the published medical research on RSV infection. They found that about 33.8 million  children become infected with RSV each year. and 99% of RSV-related deaths occur in developing countries.

Lead investigator Harish Nair, DNB, of the University of Edinburgh's Department of Population Health Studies, said: "Our greatest hope of fighting this virus is to develop a vaccine, but before we can implement an immunisation programme, we need to understand exactly how big a problem RSV poses.

"This is the first time we have gathered information on such a global scale and is the best estimate we have for the number of children dying each year from this preventable illness."