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Review
. 2024 Jan;20(1):11-25.
doi: 10.1007/s12519-023-00777-9. Epub 2023 Dec 8.

Expert consensus on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections in children

Affiliations
Review

Expert consensus on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections in children

Xian-Li Zhang et al. World J Pediatr. 2024 Jan.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading global cause of respiratory infections and is responsible for about 3 million hospitalizations and more than 100,000 deaths annually in children younger than 5 years, representing a major global healthcare burden. There is a great unmet need for new agents and universal strategies to prevent RSV infections in early life. A multidisciplinary consensus development group comprising experts in epidemiology, infectious diseases, respiratory medicine, and methodology aims to develop the current consensus to address clinical issues of RSV infections in children.

Data sources: The evidence searches and reviews were conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, using variations in terms for "respiratory syncytial virus", "RSV", "lower respiratory tract infection", "bronchiolitis", "acute", "viral pneumonia", "neonatal", "infant" "children", and "pediatric".

Results: Evidence-based recommendations regarding diagnosis, treatment, and prevention were proposed with a high degree of consensus. Although supportive care remains the cornerstone for the management of RSV infections, new monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, drug therapies, and viral surveillance techniques are being rolled out.

Conclusions: This consensus, based on international and national scientific evidence, reinforces the current recommendations and integrates the recent advances for optimal care and prevention of RSV infections. Further improvements in the management of RSV infections will require generating the highest quality of evidence through rigorously designed studies that possess little bias and sufficient capacity to identify clinically meaningful end points.

Keywords: Consensus prevention; Respiratory syncytial virus; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author Zhi-Min Chen is a member of the Editorial Board for World Journal of Pediatrics. The paper was handled by the other Editor and has undergone a rigorous peer review process. Author Zhi-Min Chen was not involved in the journal's review of, or decisions related to, this manuscript. Other authors have no conflict of interest to disclose. No financial or nonfinancial benefits have been received or will be received from any party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

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