INNATE IMMUNITY IN RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS BRONCHIOLITIS

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is a serious and distressing illness, which occurs almost exclusively in infants under one year of age. Although the majority of all children will have experienced an infection with RSV by the time they reach their second birthday, only a minority develop bronchiolitis. It is unclear why some otherwise healthy infants develop this severe illness and many studies have investigated whether or not this relates to an over-exuberant immunological response to the infection. It is increasingly being recognized that the innate immune response may play a key role.

Keywords:

• bronchiolitis
• respiratory syncytial virus
• respiratory virus