Immune Prophylaxis For Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children. Several factors that put certain children at a higher risk for contracting RSV have been identified: they are age (<2 years old), prematurity, chronic lung disease of prematurity (formerly known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia), congenital heart disease, immunodeficiencies, and multiple congenital anomalies. Immune prophylaxis against RSV is a preventive strategy to reduce the incidence of infection and its associated morbidity, including hospitalization, in high-risk infants.