Pneumonia

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

An eight month old infant is brought to the hospital by her father. He states that the child has had a recent- onset of acute sore throat, fever, rhinorrhea, and hoarseness. On physical exam, the infant appears to have some difficulty breathing and is tachypneic and feverish. Diffuse wheezes and rales are present with rhonchi over the lung fields.

Labs: Immunoflourescent smears of the respiratory epithelium reveals RNA enveloped virus. There is also a greater than 4-fold increase in antibody titer.

Discussion: The diagnosis of pneumonia due to RSV is via clinical presentation. The labs confirm that the causative agent is respiratory syncytial virus. RSV is the most important cause of pneumonia and brochiolitis in infants and spreads by contact with infected secretions. In children with pneumonia, onset is characterized by coryza, followed by cough, wheezing, tachypnea and fever. In the elderly, it causes severe cough, muscular pain, malaise, headache and fever.

For more information on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), click here.