Global burden of acute lower respiratory infections due to respiratory syncytial virus in young children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The global burden of disease attributable to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains unknown. The researchers aimed to estimate the global incidence of and mortality from episodes of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) due to RSV in children younger than 5 years in 2005. It was estimated that 66,000–199,000 children younger than 5 years died from RSV-associated ALRI in 2005, with 99% of these deaths occurring in developing countries. Incidence and mortality can vary substantially from year to year in any one setting. Globally, RSV is the most common cause of childhood ALRI and a major cause of admission to hospital as a result of severe ALRI. Mortality data suggest that RSV is an important cause of death in childhood from ALRI, after pneumococcal pneumonia and Haemophilus influenzae type b. The development of novel prevention and treatment strategies should be accelerated as a priority. Lancet. 2010;375:1545-55.