Respiratory syncytial virus: Understanding the patient journey and healthcare burden

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in infants in the United Kingdom (UK), contributing to a significant burden of disease for the healthcare system and healthcare professionals (HCPs). To understand how an infant with RSV can impact the various levels of the healthcare system, we explore the patients' and caregivers' experiences through the system using available literature, which was supplemented through interviews with two separate caregivers of infants with a previous diagnosis of RSV disease. In the UK, most infants (~60%) will have experienced an RSV infection by their first birthday. Of these, some will require multiple healthcare encounters, including hospitalisations and admission to paediatric intensive care units. The burden of RSV disease extends beyond the healthcare system, with a substantial impact on the caregivers of affected infants.