Title: Mechanisms of Mucosal Immunopathology in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of viral lower-respiratory tract disease in infants and young children. It is estimated that 1 out of 100 primary infections leads to hospital admission and substantial mortality occurs in infants with underlying heart and lung disease. In addition to acute morbidity, there are long-term consequences of RSV infection in infancy. RSV has been shown to predispose to the development of hyperreactive airway disease, and recurrent episodes of wheezing in asthmatic children are often precipitated by RSV infection. The association between viral respiratory infections and asthma has been acknowledged for several decades. Viruses provoke wheezing in some asthma patients, and viral respiratory infections may also promote the development and intensity of airway hyperresponsiveness. Common pathogenetic mechanisms link viral bronchiolitis in infancy and asthma in later life, both airway disorders associated with mucosal inflammation. Despite the large number of studies on the pathogenesis of RSV infection in humans and experimental animals, the mechanisms of the disease and the delicate balance between immunopathology and immunoprotection are not well understood.
Publication Year: 1996
Publication Date: 1996-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 10
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