Serious infections

Both EV and RSV cause serious infections in some subjects, mainly in immunosuppressed patient groups. Serious infection may present as severe respiratory infections, myocarditis, sepsis, hepatitis, meningitis myelitis and encephalitis.

No antiviral treatment is available to counteract ongoing EV and RSV infections and available treatment is restricted to symptomatic treatment and intensive support when needed. Some patients die from these infections, and lasting symptoms may remain for the ones who survive. Such symptoms include respiratory morbidity (e.g., wheezing, airway hyper-responsiveness to irritants/allergens and possibly an increased risk for COPD later in life) and neurological complications (paralysis).