Ribavirin effect on pulmonary function in young infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis.

To assess the effect of ribavirin on pulmonary function in infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis, we performed a randomized (nonmatched), double blinded, placebo-controlled study of 19 infants with RSV bronchiolitis. Infants with underlying respiratory, cardiac or immunologic disease were excluded. Patients were given ribavirin (10) or placebo (9) via an aerosol generator for 18 hours/day for 3 days.