Efficacy of ribavirin aerosol treatment for respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in infants.

Abstract

The therapeutic efficacy of ribavirin, an anti-viral agent with a broad spectrum of activity, was studied in 14 infants with bronchiolitis which, in seven cases, was caused by a respiratory syncytial virus infection. The drug was administered for 5-6 days using an aerosol in periods of either 4 or 6 h with an interval of either 4 or 2 h between administrations. The body temperature of patients with fever returned to normal by day 3 of therapy. A significant decrease in the respiratory rate occurred by day 2 when there was also a marked improvement in the subjective and objective symptomatology. The most significant clinical improvements occurred in infants presenting a respiratory syncytial virus antigen in nasal wash specimens. This suggests therapeutic selectivity by ribavirin for (or a more pronounced sensibility of) this virus.

• Authors: G Caramia, E Palazzini
• Journal: The Journal of international medical research (J Int Med Res) 1987 Jul-Aug Vol. 15 Issue 4 Pg. 227-33 ISSN: 0300-0605 [Print] England
• PMID: 3653500 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Aerosols
• Ribonucleosides
• Ribavirin

Topics

• Aerosols
• Bronchiolitis (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
• Respirovirus Infections (blood, drug therapy)
• Ribavirin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Ribonucleosides (therapeutic use)