ACUTE RESPIRATORY ILLNESS IN THE PREMATURE NURSERY ASSOCIATED WITH RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS INFECTIONS

Abstract

Two mid-winter outbreaks of respiratory disease in a premature nursery, one in 1962, and the second a year later in 1963, are described. The majority of the 14 infected prematures were severely ill. They presented with mild upper respiratory symptoms that continued for from 1 to 8 days before the acute onset of dyspnea. Nine had radiologic evidence of pneumonia. Certain clinical manifestations were sufficiently characteristic to suggest a common etiology. The virologic data that support the association of these epidemics with respiratory syncytial virus infection are presented in detail.