Respiratory syncytial infection in children

Respiratory syncytial infection (PC-infection) is an acute viral disease with mild symptoms of intoxication, a predominant lesion of the lower respiratory tract, frequent development of bronchiolitis and interstitial pneumonia in young children.

Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial infection

Respiratory syncytial infection is widespread, recorded year-round, but outbreaks occur more often in winter and spring. The source of infection are sick and rarely - virus carriers. Patients excrete the virus within 10-14 days. Infection is transmitted exclusively by airborne droplets during direct contact. Transmission of infection through third parties and household items is unlikely. Susceptibility of different age groups to respiratory syncytial infection is not the same. Degas under 4 months are relatively insensitive, as many of them have specific antibodies received from the mother. The only exception is premature babies, they do not have passive immunity and therefore are susceptible to PC infection from the first days of life. The greatest susceptibility to respiratory syncytial infection is observed at the age of 4-5 months to 3 years. At this age, all children manage to survive respiratory syncytial infection (especially in children's groups). Serious antibodies of IgA appear in the serum and the mucous membrane of the nose. Secretory antibodies are an important factor of immunity in respiratory syncytial infection. Since the acquired immunity is not stable, in repeated meetings with the respiratory syncytial virus, children can again get respiratory syncytial infection. Such diseases are erased, but maintain the intensity of specific immunity. Consequently, with the complete disappearance of specific antibodies against the respiratory syncytial virus, a manifest form of the disease appears, and against the background of residual immunity, an erased, or inapparent, infection.

Causes of respiratory syncytial infection

The virus contains RNA, from other paramyxoviruses it is distinguished by a large polymorphism, the diameter of the particles is on the average 120-200 nm, is not very stable in the external environment. There are 2 serovars of the virus having a common complement-binding antigen. The virus develops well in primary and transplantable cell lines (HeLa cells, Hep-2, etc.), where syncytium and pseudo-giant cells are formed. Unlike other paramyxoviruses, neither hemagglutinin nor neuraminidase has been detected in respiratory syncytial viruses.

Causes and pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial infection

Classification

There are light, medium and heavy forms of respiratory syncytial infection, the course can be smooth, without complications, and with complications. With a mild form, the body temperature is normal or subfebrile. Symptoms of intoxication are not expressed. The disease proceeds according to the catarrh of the upper respiratory tract.

When the form is moderate, the body temperature is 38-39.5 ° C, the symptoms of intoxication are moderately expressed. There are phenomena of bronchiolitis with respiratory failure of I-II degree:

Symptoms of respiratory syncytial infection

The incubation period lasts from 3 to 7 days. Clinical manifestations of the disease depend on the age of the children.

In older children, respiratory syncytial infection usually proceeds easily, according to the type of acute catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, often without an increase in body temperature or with a subfebrile temperature. The general condition worsens insignificantly, there is a slight headache, mild cognition, weakness. The leading clinical symptom is a cough, usually dry, persistent, prolonged. Breathing is rapid, with a hard exhalation, sometimes with suffocation. Children sometimes complain of pain behind the sternum. When examined, their general condition is satisfactory. Pallor and small pastosity of the face, injection of vessels of the sclera, scanty discharge from the nose are noted. The mucous membrane of the throat is weakly hyperemic or unchanged. Breathing is hard, dry and damp rales are scattered. In some cases, the liver is enlarged. The course of the disease up to 2-3 weeks.

Symptoms of respiratory syncytial infection

Diagnosis of respiratory syncytial infection

Respiratory syncytial infection is diagnosed on the basis of a characteristic clinical picture of bronchiolitis with obstructive syndrome, severe oxygen deficiency at low or normal body temperature, with the corresponding epidemic situation - the emergence of a mass one-type disease mainly among young children.

Treatment of respiratory syncytial infection

In most cases, treatment is done at home. Assign arbidol, anaferon child, kagocel, gepon or other immunocorrecting agents, as well as bed rest, sparing a full-fledged diet, symptomatic remedies, as with other ARVI. In obstructive syndrome, euphyllin is given with dimedrol or other antihistamine drugs. Mucaltin is shown, a mixture with an althaeum, thermopsis, sodium bicarbonate. In severe cases, hospitalization is necessary. When combined obstructive syndrome with pneumonia, antibiotics are prescribed.

Diagnosis and treatment of respiratory syncytial infection

Prevention

Early isolation of the patient, ventilation of premises, wet cleaning with disinfectants are important. Specific prophylaxis is not developed. All children who have contact with patients can be sprayed into the nose with interferon.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9],