respiratory syncytial virus
noun
plural respiratory syncytial viruses
: a pneumovirus (species Human orthopneumovirus of the genus Orthopneumovirus) that usually causes mild infections of the upper respiratory tract but may progress to bronchiolitis and pneumonia especially in infants —abbreviation RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus causes colds in older children and adults, but in infants it can develop into bronchiolitis, a dangerous, even life-threatening, lower-respiratory infection.
Perri Klass
Perri KlassNote: Respiratory syncytial virus was initially identified in 1956 and was formerly classified as a paramyxovirus.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, the cadence of another common childhood respiratory infection, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), also swung unexpectedly; the CDC issued an alert in June 2021 that the cold-season virus was thriving in the summer. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 2022 Jones said Sammy got RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] – which is an infection of the lungs and respiratory tract, according to the Mayo Clinic – and his heart started to fail. Fox News, 29 Apr. 2022 Last summer, doctors noted an odd summer surge in respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, in kids — a virus that's more commonly seen in winter months. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 28 July 2022 The respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, infects nearly everyone at some point, causing mild, cold-like symptoms for most people. Peter Loftus, WSJ, 15 Apr. 2022 Recently, Cue Health was excluded from a contract issued by the Defense Logistics Agency for COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) rapid test kits and analyzers, according to the Government Accountability Office. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2022 Also this week, the FDA authorized an at-home sample kit that detects COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or the two most common strains of influenza (A and B). Maggie O'neill, SELF, 18 May 2022 Researchers at Meissa Vaccines in California use a version of the respiratory syncytial virus that has been weakened and covered with coronavirus spikes. Carolyn Y. Johnson, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Apr. 2022 Hamer pointed to a January analysis published in the Journal of Allergy and Infectious Diseases that found dietary xylitol was effective in mice infected with the human respiratory syncytial virus, a virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Miriam Fauzia, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2021 See More
Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 2022 Jones said Sammy got RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] – which is an infection of the lungs and respiratory tract, according to the Mayo Clinic – and his heart started to fail. Fox News, 29 Apr. 2022 Last summer, doctors noted an odd summer surge in respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, in kids — a virus that's more commonly seen in winter months. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 28 July 2022 The respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, infects nearly everyone at some point, causing mild, cold-like symptoms for most people. Peter Loftus, WSJ, 15 Apr. 2022 Recently, Cue Health was excluded from a contract issued by the Defense Logistics Agency for COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) rapid test kits and analyzers, according to the Government Accountability Office. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2022 Also this week, the FDA authorized an at-home sample kit that detects COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or the two most common strains of influenza (A and B). Maggie O'neill, SELF, 18 May 2022 Researchers at Meissa Vaccines in California use a version of the respiratory syncytial virus that has been weakened and covered with coronavirus spikes. Carolyn Y. Johnson, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Apr. 2022 Hamer pointed to a January analysis published in the Journal of Allergy and Infectious Diseases that found dietary xylitol was effective in mice infected with the human respiratory syncytial virus, a virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Miriam Fauzia, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1957, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
respiratory syncytial virus
noun
: a pneumovirus (species Human orthopneumovirus of the genus Orthopneumovirus) that usually causes mild infections of the upper respiratory tract but may progress to bronchiolitis and pneumonia especially in infants —abbreviation RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus is the most important respiratory pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. David W. Smith et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
David W. Smith et al., The New England Journal of MedicineNote: Respiratory syncytial virus was initially identified in 1956 and was formerly classified as a paramyxovirus. Cells infected with the virus typically fuse with adjacent cells to form multinucleate syncytia.