Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of hospitalization for acute respiratory distress in infants and young children; however, it is also a significant threat to older adults and those with compromised immune systems. In 2015, there were an estimated 1.5 million cases of RSV-related acute respiratory illness in older adults in industrialized countries, with about 14.5% requiring hospitalization and around 14,000 in-hospital deaths globally. RSV epidemics are seasonal, typically peaking in winter in temperate zones and during rainy seasons in tropical regions.
In August 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a bivalent RSV vaccine for use in adults aged ≥ 60 years on the basis of an ongoing phase 3 clinical trial demonstrating that the vaccine prevented RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illness and RSV-associated acute respiratory illness among adults in this age group, without evident safety concerns.
Do you know the facts about adult RSV? Find out now.
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Cite this: Denyse Lutchmansingh. Fact or Fiction: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Adults - Medscape - Feb 16, 2024.
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