Important Facts For Prelims
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- 21 May 2022
- 2 min read
Why in News?
Recently, in a study it was found that the lower respiratory infections caused by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are more frequent in children under the age of five.
- According to a report published by the Lancet, it is responsible for the death of 1,00,000 children in the world during the year 2019.
What is the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)?
- About:
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a common respiratory virus.
- It is characterized by its highly contagious nature i.e., it has a high potential to infect people.
- It exacerbated the seasonal lung infection.
- It commonly infects children especially under 2 to 6 years of age.
- In most of the cases it has symptoms like the common cold but in advanced stages it converts into phenumonia and bronchiolitis.
- Key Findings:
- In the year 2019, over 45000 infant fatalities under the age of six were reported.
- One child out of every five RSV infected children died in the entire world.
- Children six months and younger are most vulnerable to this virus.
- According to the research, the annual incidence rate in India is 53 per 1,000 children (5.3%), with an estimated 61,86,500 cases of RSV associated with acute lower respiratory infection in children under the age of five.
- RSV killed 97 percent of children under the age of five in low- and middle-income nations.
What is the Cure for Respiratory Syncytial Virus?
- There is no reliable cure available for RSV infection.
- Scientists, Government and concerning authority are promoting research and development in this domain to find out appropriate medicine and vaccination to save the life of infants and children.
