RSV’s Hidden Burden on Primary Care and Community Settings
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and young children. While significant attention is given to the hospital burden, particularly during the RSV season, the impact on primary care and private practices remains under-evaluated. These frontline settings bear substantial pressure, managing the initial wave of RSV cases and alleviating strain on hospital facilities.
This report underscores RSV’s significant burden on primary care and private practices, highlighting critical gaps in diagnosis, management, prevention, and resource availability.
The survey findings reveal that RSV remains a leading cause of respiratory illnesses, with a notable increase in cases and severity compared to previous seasons. This rising trend reinforces the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, improved preparedness, and strengthened healthcare infrastructure to manage seasonal peaks effectively.
A key takeaway from the report is the disproportionate impact of RSV on infants aged 6–12 months, who experience higher prevalence rates, prolonged symptoms, and increased hospitalization risks. The substantial follow-up care and additional examinations required for these cases further illustrate RSV’s strain on primary care settings, which is often overlooked in broader RSV burden assessments. The data also highlight the socioeconomic consequences of RSV, with extended school and daycare absences affecting families and workplaces, adding an indirect but significant burden to communities.
The report also identifies significant gaps in RSV diagnosis within community settings. Despite the importance of confirming RSV infections, diagnostic testing remains underutilized, both in clinical practice and by parents. This overreliance on clinical evaluation rather than laboratory confirmation poses challenges in disease management, public health tracking, and targeted interventions. Addressing this gap by increasing access to reliable, rapid, affordable diagnostic tests is crucial for improving RSV detection and response efforts.
