Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), historically viewed as a pediatric pathogen, is now presenting with increasing frequency and severity in adults, particularly older adults and those with chronic cardiopulmonary disease. Recent epidemiological data from 2024–2025 show a marked rise in RSV-related hospitalizations, with clinical presentations often indistinguishable from influenza or SARS-CoV-2 in the early phase. For physicians, recognizing adult RSV is clinically important because delayed diagnosis contributes to worsening respiratory failure, inappropriate antimicrobial use, and prolonged hospitalization.
High-risk groups, including COPD, asthma, heart failure, diabetes, CKD, and the immunocompromised, exhibit significantly higher rates of complications, including severe bronchiolitis, secondary bacterial pneumonia, and acute decompensation of underlying disease. With new RSV…
