Resumo

MARTINEZ DE CUELLAR, Celia et al. Prevention of severe respiratory infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus. II inter-institutional consensus. Pediatr. (Asunción) [online]. 2026, vol.53, n.1, pp.110-124. ISSN 1683-9803.  https://doi.org/10.31698/ped.53012026015.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of severe acute respiratory infection in infants, generates high morbidity and mortality. Annually, it causes more than 33 million lower respiratory infections, 3.2 million hospitalizations, and up to 149,000 deaths in children under five years of age. In Paraguay, it is one of the leading causes of hospitalization in children under one year of age. Traditionally, prevention focused on high-risk infants; however, 80% of RSV hospitalizations occur in healthy infants, which has driven the development of new preventive strategies targeting infants under one year of age. Among these strategies, the long-acting monoclonal antibody nirsevimab stands out, providing passive immunity with a single dose that protects throughout the viral circulation season. Real-world evidence has shown relevant results. In Galicia and Chile, nirsevimab significantly reduced hospitalizations for RSV-associated lower respiratory infections, admissions to intensive care units, and mortality. In 2025, Paraguay incorporated nirsevimab for the prevention of RSV infections in infants born between January and July and in at-risk groups. During the first season of implementation, a significant decrease in cases, a reduction in severe cases, fewer admissions to intensive care units, and no RSV-related deaths were observed. These results highlight the health impact of nirsevimab immunization and support its continued use as the only strategy to reduce the burden of RSV disease in infants.

Palavras-chave : Respiratory syncytial virus; acute lower respiratory infection; nirsevimab.

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