pediatrics
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human Metapneumovirus Infections
Key Points
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus usually cause a syndrome of bronchiolitis, but pneumonia may occur. Diagnosis is usually clinical, but testing, including rapid antigen tests and molecular assays (eg, reverse-transcription–polymerase chain reaction), is available. Give supportive treatment; corticosteroids, bronchodilators,nirsevimab, andpalivizumabare not recommended. Inhaledribavirinmay be useful for RSV but is potentially toxic to health care professionals and is now used only in patients with severe immunocompromise. Before the RSV season, givenirsevimabto all appropriate children; ifnirsevimabis not available, givepalivizumabto specific high-risk infants. 