The association between respiratory syncytial virus infection and reactive airway disease

Evidence has been accumulating that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infants may be linked to subsequent development of reactive airway disease (RAD) in childhood, and therefore research into the prevention of RSV LRTI may have important implications for the prevention of RAD. This article reviews the epidemiological evidence linking RSV and RAD and some of the theories concerning cellular and molecular mechanisms of post-viral airway inflammation in order to understand how RSV prophylaxis may assist in reducing the occurrence of RSV LRTI and RAD.