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Ribavirin for respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis reduced the risk of asthma and allergen sensitization

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in early life is a risk factor for later development of asthma and atopy. Ribavirin is the only effective drug currently available against acute RSV bronchiolitis. However, the long‐term effects of ribavirin remain unclear. We investigated a cohort of children hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis from when they were under 2 yr old until they reached a mean age of 6.2 yr. In total, we enrolled 175 children in this study. Both the group treated with ribavirin and the group not treated with ribavirin included high‐risk young children with congenital heart disease or chronic lung disease. Their respective age‐matched controls, that we labeled groups A and B, both without ribavirin treatment, consisted of previously healthy subjects. Wheezing was either verified by physicians or estimated by a questionnaire. Allergen sensitization was judged by serum allergen‐specific IgE levels. The cumulative incidence of physician‐diagnosed asthma or recurrent wheezing in the ribavirin group (15%) was significantly lower than its incidence in the non‐ribavirin‐treated group (34%, p = 0.049), and in the control A group (43%, p = 0.005). Allergen sensitization was also least frequent in the ribavirin group. Ribavirin therapy was an independent factor in reducing the risk of developing asthma, asthma/recurrent wheezing, and sensitization to D. pteronyssinus/D. farinae. The long‐term value of ribavirin for acute RSV bronchiolitis and its underlying mechanisms deserves further research.