Respiratory virus infections in hospitalized and non-hospitalized children: determinants of severe course of the disease

Abstract

Children who were hospitalized due to respiratory distress had well defined characteristics: early age, respiratory syncytial virus infection, bronchiolitis and presence of comorbidity. Nevertheless, rapid respiratory syncytial virus identification among early age children may be of great value in order to avoid medical misconduct, such as unnecessary antibiotic prescription and preventive health care before an eventual clinical worsening encompassing previous health status.