IV. Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Abstract

RS virus appears to be responsible for a considerable proportion of the severe respiratory illness which afflicts infants and small children. The virus has sharply limited periods of widespread dissemination in the community every year and thus represents a recurring threat to the pediatric population. Serologic studies indicate that most children become infected by age 4. Reinfection can occur later in life and is probably associated in a proportion of instances with a mild respiratory illness. It is clear that an RS virus vaccine, whether live-attenuated or inactivated, should receive a very high priority in any future plans for immunoprophylaxis of pediatric respiratory disease.