# A practical guidance on the prevention and treatment of childhood respiratory syncytial virus infection in Kurdistan

## TL;DR

This paper provides guidance on preventing and treating RSV in children in Kurdistan, where no vaccine is available.

## Contribution

The paper outlines specific criteria for using palivizumab in high-risk children and urges health authorities to support its use.

## Key findings

- Palivizumab is recommended for infants born prematurely or with certain health conditions.
- Health authorities are urged to support immunoprophylaxis for RSV prevention.
- RSV poses a significant health and economic burden in the absence of a vaccine.

## Abstract

Without an available vaccine in Kurdistan, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection threatens younger children, burdens the healthcare system and contributes to household expenditure on health. Immunoprophylaxis remains the only preventive option in Kurdistan. Expert pediatricians recommend palivizumab to children at RSV risk; particularly infants (1) born within 29 gestational weeks and <1-year-old at RSV season start, (2) born premature (>29 gestational weeks) at risk for RSV hospitalization, (3) with congenital lung disease requiring oxygen therapy for >1 month and are <2 years old at RSV season start, and (4) with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease and acyanotic heart and who are <2 years of age at RSV season start. We call onto health authorities to support palivizumab immunoprophylaxis to all children at risk for RSV.