Clinical Significance

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) belongs to the genus Pneumovirus of the family Paramyxoviridae and has only one serotype. It is most common in newborns and infants under 6 months of age. The incubation period is 3 to 7 days. Infants and young children may have high fever, rhinitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis, and later bronchitis and pneumonia. A small number of children may have otitis media, pleurisy and myocarditis. In adults and older children, the main manifestation of infection is upper respiratory tract infection.