Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2011 Jun;30(6):510-7.
doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3182184ae7.

Epidemiology and prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections among infants and young children

Affiliations
Review

Epidemiology and prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections among infants and young children

Gayle Fischer Langley et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011 Jun.

Abstract

Since its discovery in 1956, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been recognized as one of the most common causes of serious lower respiratory tract infections in young children worldwide. While considered a high priority, development of a safe and effective vaccine has remained elusive. Prevention of RSV disease relies on infection control and hygiene measures, as well as providing immunoprophylaxis in select infants. The prophylaxis, however, is costly, and so targeting the recipient population and timing of administration is important for optimal effectiveness and judicious use of limited health care resources. This article reviews the epidemiology of RSV infections in infants and young children, including risk factors for severe disease, so as to inform decisions about prevention efforts.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources