Pneumonia Virus Kills 200,000 Kids, A Year

Kids

oi-Devaki

By Devaki

Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 11:09

A common lung virus called Respiratory Synctytial Virus (RSV), which causes wheezing and pneumonia takes the lives of up to two hundred thousand children worldwide annually, warns the researchers from the University of Edinburgh.

RSV infects most children before the age of two. It generally causes mild cold-like symptoms, but can lead to seriousness in the babies born prematurely or who have congenital heart disease. RSV is the single largest cause of lung infection in children.

The study conducted by them also shows that around 3.4 million children require hospital treatment for the severe lung infection, caused by this bug.

The researchers say that they are trying to find out how big a problem this virus poses, before finding an immunization program for that.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.