RSV causes most infant respiratory infections but is rarely reported in India say experts | Bengaluru News
BENGALURU: Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes nearly two-thirds of respiratory infections in infants, very few cases are reported in India, according to paediatric experts. This is despite RSV being a notifiable disease for decades, they say.“Many hospitals don’t test for RSV unless there’s a major outbreak,” said Dr Vasant M Khalatkar, National President of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. He pointed to 2,360 reported child deaths in 2024 from just a few cities—Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Mumbai—as just “the tip of the iceberg.”At a medical roundtable on Tuesday in the city, doctors emphasised that almost every child contracts RSV by the age of two. RSV is an airborne viral infection that spreads through droplets and impacts the lungs when severe. It starts with a sniffle, some cold, and in three days could turn worse, requiring hospitalisation. While many recover easily, there’s no way to predict which child might fall seriously ill, developing pneumonia or bronchiolitis, said doctors.“RSV starts with symptoms like a common cold but can turn into a severe lung infection within just three days,” explained Dr Bhavesh Kotak, Head of Medical Affairs at Dr Reddy’s. Citing WHO data, he said RSV causes 63% of acute respiratory infections in young children globally.Experts said natural immunity passed from the mother helps in the early days after birth. “Respiratory protection from the placenta lasts only about a month. Breastfeeding helps with digestive immunity,” said Dr Cesar Mascarenas of Sanofi. That’s why doctors say vaccination could play a crucial role in protecting babies, especially in the first six months.A Lancet study, Dr Kotak explained, found that out of 12.9 million cases of RSV-related lower respiratory infections globally, 3.6 million infants needed hospital care, and over 1 lakh (101,000) babies died.Despite the scale of the problem, routine testing and awareness around RSV remain low in India, said experts.