Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause serious infections in infancy and early childhood, especially during the winter in northern hemisphere temperate climate zones, and therefore also in our country. It may even lead to death in high-risk groups. Unfortunately, there is no safe and effective vaccine prophylaxis. RSV incidence in patients below two years of age hospitalized due to lower respiratory tract infection is reported as 30-38% in our country. The simple and low-cost method of RSV prophylaxis is proper hand hygiene and prevention of contact. Preventive measures include avoidance of crowds in season, avoidance of passive smoking, good hygiene control in day care centers, frequent hand washing, and application of this information and behavior in families with small children. Palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody against RSV, offers an effective and safe prophylaxis in decreasing the severity of disease and prevention of hospitalization in preterms, preterms with chronic lung disease, and infants with hemodynamically significant heart disease. It may also decrease the risk of long-term recurrent wheezing attacks. Palivizumab is applied as monthly intramuscular injections in season, but discussions are ongoing due to its high cost. The reasons to limit its use in other high-risk groups (such as immune deficiency, neuromuscular disease, Down syndrome) are lack of effect in reducing mortality, the only very recent evidence accumulation in these groups, and discussions about the high cost. Development of a new safe RSV vaccine may decrease the global incidence and severity of RSV infection.

Keywords: respiratuar sinsisyal virus, prematüre, bronşiolit, profilaksi, palivizumab.