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Glite Dictionary
respiratory syncytial virus

respiratory syncytial virus

6.1
A virus that infects the breathing tubes of young children and can cause serious chest infections like pneumonia
  • noun
  • /ˌrɛspəˌrɛtəri sɪnˈsɪʃəl ˈvaɪrəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : virus sincitial respiratorio
  • Every winter, many children are admitted to hospitals due to infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus.
  • respiratory syncytial virus and influenza
  • respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
  • human respiratory syncytial virus

Examples

  • Additionally, an indirect immunofluorescence assay was done in all samples for respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Recently, other researchers reported infections with human respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus in wild nonhuman primates in Africa (6, 7).

    Academic text (2013)

  • Recurrent, severe lung infections, including whooping cough, measles, respiratory syncytial virus, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and fungal infections.

    Academic text (2011)

  • We present here weekly data for the past four winters on acute respiratory diseases in the elderly, total deaths, and isolations of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza viruses.

    Academic text (1993)

  • The respiratory syncytial virus is a leading cause of bronchiolitis in infants and young children.

  • Doctors warn that the respiratory syncytial virus can lead to severe illnesses like pneumonia.

Surface Forms

respiratory syncytial virus singular
respiratory syncytial viruses plural

Morphology

respiratory + syncytial + virus

The compound is directly built from its parts: 'respiratory' (relating to the respiratory system) + 'syncytial' (forming syncytia) + 'virus' (an infectious agent), so a learner who knows these words can infer it is a virus affecting the respiratory tract that produces syncytia. While clinical specifics (age groups, severity) require medical knowledge, the core referent is compositionally derivable.

Etymology

Respiratory syncytial virus comes from what the germ does in the body. Here respiratory means 'breathing' and syncytial describes how infected cells 'join together' into large clumps, so the name tells us it is a virus that attacks the breathing tubes.