Respiratory Synovial Virus (RSV) Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Respiratory Synovial Virus (RSV) - Term Paper Example Almost every child will have atleast one RSV infection in the first 3 years of life (Krilov, 2011). The disease is prevalent in most parts of the world and is associated with some morbidity and mortality. Mortality rate however is low and less than 1 percent even in hospitalized children. Increased mortality is seen only in high risk groups like immunodeficiency, chronic lung disease and prematurity (Marlais et al, 2011). In these children, even the hospital stay is prolonged. There is some evidence that infants who have suffered RSV infection are likely to develop abnormal pulmonary function tests related to asthma or obstructive disease (Krilov, 2011). It is yet unclear whether the virus itself causes the disease are those who have such problems are prone to the disease. The disease occurs in all races and both the sexes. Reinfection can occur any time in life, with limitation to upper respiratory tract. Virology The virus has 10 genes which encode 11 proteins, M2 has 2 open readin g frames. NS_ and 2 inhibit the activity of interferon-1. N encodes for the nucleocapsid protein resulting in association with the genomic RNA, forming nucleocapsid. The matrix protein that is essential for viral assembly is encoded by M. The viral coat is formed by G, SH and F. G is the surface protein and is glycosylated heavily. It mainly functions as the protein of attachment. F is also a surface protein. It mainly mediated fusion and helps in the entry of the virus into the cell and also transfer of the virus from one cell to another through syncytia (Ji, 2009). Site of infection Infection due to RSV is restricted to the respiratory tract. In young children and infant, the lower respiratory tract gets involved. The virus gets inoculated in the epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract and the virus gradually spreads to the lower respiratory tract through cell-to-cell transfer along the syncytia (Garzon et al, 2002). Clinical presentation Clinically, the child begins with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection and small airway disease many manifest within 2 days. Clinical features include coryza, cough, wheezing, few crepitations, low grade fever and poor appetite. In some children, the disease is advanced and manifests as retractions, cyanosis and low oxygen saturations on oximetry. Secondary bacterial infections are rare with RSV infection, except for otitis media which occurs in 40 percent cases. In very small infants apnea and sepsis like picture can occur. In older children, RSV is more limited to upper respiratory tract. In elderly people, RSV is a severe disease (Marlais et al, 2011). In those with immunodeficiency also, severe disease occurs. Because of decreased oral intake and increased loss of water through increased breathing, children with RSV infection are likely to be dehydrated (Krilov, 2011). Risk factors Factors associated with increased risk of developing the infection are attendance to child care, lower socioeconomic status , crowding, exposure to pollutants in the environment like traffic pollutants and smoking, absence of breast feeding, multiple births sets and family history of asthma. Other risk factors include prematurity, age less than 3 months, congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, congenital immunodeficiency and severe neuromuscular