Ribavirin for Parainfluenza – pro
Parainfluenza viruses are important respiratory pathogens in adults and children. Although parainfluenza viruses are commonly recognized as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children, their impact in adults is less well characterized but infections by parainfluenza is well reported in transpalnt receipients and people on chemotherapy. Despite the lack of controlled data, many centers use ribavirin to treat parainfluenza and RSV. Studies have conflicted on its effectiveness (Wendt et al and Nichols et al both failed to find any effect of ribavirin therapy but other investigators obtained positive results) but, as no other therapy ahs been demonstrated to work better and the infection is life threatening in this setting and supported by several studies, ribavirin should be considered to be medically necessary in this setting.
Kett, Jennifer Cobelli, Loharikar, Anagha, Adam, Henry M.
Influenza and Parainfluenza
Pediatrics in Review 2009 30: 326-327
American Academy of Pediatrics. In: Pickering LK, Baker CJ, Long SS, McMillan JA, eds. Red Book: 2006 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 27th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2006:479 –481
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation – Hillard Lazarus, Mary Laughlin – 2009 – 881 pages
Page 513