Understanding RSV
Beyond the Hospital Walls
While RSV is well-known for overwhelming hospitals during peak seasons, its real and often underreported toll begins in pediatric clinics and private practices. The Excellence in Pediatrics Institute, with support from Sanofi, conducted an in-depth assessment to highlight the unseen burden, challenges, and opportunities to improve RSV diagnosis, treatment, and prevention where care starts—at the community level.
RSV Prevention Starts Here: The Pressure on Pediatric Frontlines
Primary care physicians and private pediatricians are often the first to encounter RSV cases. This survey uncovered a rising trend in both the volume and severity of RSV cases in infants—especially those aged 6–12 months. From prolonged symptoms and hospitalizations to disrupted daycare and family life, the impact extends beyond the clinic, putting pressure on already strained practices and communities.
- Higher case volume and severity
- Longer symptom duration in young infants
- Hospitalization risks and follow-up complexity
- Indirect socioeconomic burden on families
What the Data Tells us
The RSV Impact Assessment Survey reveals the scale and complexity of RSV’s burden across frontline care settings.
Infants at Highest Risk
Children aged 6–12 months suffer disproportionately from RSV, with higher hospitalization rates and prolonged recovery.
Diagnosis Still Lags Behind
Underuse of lab testing leaves many RSV cases unconfirmed, complicating both care and public health tracking.
Prevention - Action
While awareness of prevention is widespread among pediatricians, recommendations for vaccination remain inconsistent.
Call for Better Education
Most physicians expressed a strong need for updated clinical guidelines and hands-on training sessions.
Gaps in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
The report identifies three critical areas that require immediate attention:
- Diagnostic Access: RSV tests must be rapid, affordable, and routine.
- Treatment Standardization: Referral gaps show the need for unified care.
- Vaccination Strategy: Lack of guidance keeps RSV prevention fragmented.
Explore the Survey Insights
Explore findings from our multi-country survey of pediatric healthcare professionals and advocacy organisations.
A Call for Proactive RSV Management in Primary Care
Strengthening RSV diagnostics, care standards, prevention, and education is key to improving outcomes and easing the burden on healthcare systems.
Survey Results Presentation
Explore the detailed findings from the survey conducted by Excellence in Pediatrics Institute, with support from Sanofi.
This initiative was made possible through collaboration between the Excellence in Pediatrics Institute and Sanofi. Together, we are committed to advancing understanding and action in pediatric RSV care—starting at the source.
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