Pediatrics
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Does ribavirin impact on the hospital course of children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection? An analysis using the pediatric investigators collaborative network on infections in Canada (PICNIC) RSV database.
To determine the relationship between receipt of aerosolized ribavirin and the hospital course of high-risk infants and children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory infection (LRI). ⋯ These data raise further doubts about the clinical effectiveness of ribavirin in infants and children with risk factors for severe disease. Selection bias, with ribavirin used for sicker children, may have influenced outcome. Nevertheless the long durations of hospitalization, ICU, ventilation, and oxygen supplementation in nonventilated ribavirin recipients stress the need for further randomized trials to assess its efficacy.