A team of investigators have discovered that a particular genetic mutation combined with an urban environment may increase the risk of severe disease in kids infected with RSV.
The study, reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, identifies a specific sub-population of children who are more likely to be hospitalized because of RSV infection, said Fernando Polack, M.D., Cesar Milstein Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt and senior author of the report.
The findings support further studies directed at understanding how these children respond to RSV infection and discovering strategies to reduce their risk of severe disease, said Polack, who also directs Fundación INFANT in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
