Posts Tagged: "pneumonia"

Patent issued on vaccine for one of the most common causes of bronchiolitis and pneumonia

Respiratory syncytial virus, commonly referred to simply as RSV, is a highly contagious viral disease and is one of the most common causes of bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Up to 2.5 million infections occur in the U.S. each year. It is also the leading cause of childhood hospitalization globally. Nearly all children are infected with the virus at least once by the age of two to three years, and many develop pulmonary disease and/or asthma that persists throughout adult life, making them susceptible to re-infection. RSV particularly dangerous for premature babies, children with preexisting health conditions and the elderly, and is responsible for 16,000 deaths each year in adults over 65.