2024-01-23 19:43:29
January 24, 2024
Dr. Wu Jiancong
Respiratory system department
Respiratory Syndrome Virus (RSV) mentioned above, symptoms are mild in most healthy adults, but can cause severe illness, including pneumonia and death, in young children, those over 65 years old, and patients with low immunity. Data show that RSV kills more than 14,000 elderly hospitalized patients each year (United States). Typically hospitalized patients with pneumonia are not routinely tested for RSV. In developed countries, RSV is estimated to account for 8% of hospitalizations for acute respiratory tract infections each year, which is an underestimate and cannot be ignored.
Currently, there is no effective treatment for RSV virus. Patients with severe RSV pneumonia are mainly admitted to the intensive care unit for close observation, ventilator use and supportive care. In May 2023, the US FDA officially approved the RSV vaccine to prevent the development of lower respiratory tract infections in patients aged 60 or above. Japan is the first Asian country to approve its use in September 2023; Hong Kong also officially introduced it in October last year, targeting patients over 60 years old and suffering from long-term lung diseases.
RSV vaccine is designed to prevent RSV infection from developing into lower respiratory tract infection and subsequent serious complications. Data show that the vaccine can reduce the chance of worsening into lower respiratory tract infection by 82% and prevent complications such as RSV tracheitis, pneumonia and otitis media. The vaccine only requires one injection, and studies show that more than 80% protection can still be maintained 21 months following vaccination. Common side effects are pain at the injection site, fatigue and headache; less common are diarrhea, muscle and joint pain; less than 1% have severe allergic reactions and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Although the vaccine is not currently suitable for young children, as young children in Hong Kong are mainly cared for by their grandparents, if grandparents can reduce RSV infection, they can also indirectly prevent young children from contracting RSV, which is indeed killing two birds with one stone. In addition to vaccination, it is also very important to maintain good personal hygiene such as cleaning hands, wearing appropriate surgical masks when high-risk individuals visit public places, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting enough rest and not smoking or drinking.
The author is a respiratory system specialist
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