SAVE THE DATE: TUESDAY, SEPT. 27, 2005, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EDT

As virus season approaches, leading experts discuss how to protect premature infants against RSV, a potentially dangerous virus

Clinical experts from Children's Hospital Boston and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses lead media teleconference to review data and offer advice on safeguarding preemie health

What: More than 500,000 premature infants are born each year in the United States, approximately one every 60 seconds. Underdeveloped lungs and weak immune systems leave these fragile patients susceptible to respiratory illnesses. During virus season, which begins in late October, these babies are at a higher risk of developing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a disease that may be up to 10 times more deadly than influenza in children under 1 year of age.

• RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory infection and viral death in children under 5 years of age.
• RSV is leading cause of hospitalization of children under age 1.
• Each year approximately 400 children under the age of 1 die from RSV ; in 2003-2004, 32 children under age 2 died from the flu.

Because RSV shares many symptoms with the common cold and influenza, it often goes un- or misdiagnosed, raising the risk of serious health complications. During this national media teleconference, experts from Children's Hospital Boston and the National Association of Neonatal

Nurses will discuss:

• Recent studies on the long-term impact of RSV on children's health
• Signs/symptoms of and treatment for RSV
• How to protect infants from RSV infection and promote long-term lung health

When: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EDT
Please R.S.V.P. to contacts listed above to obtain the teleconference call-in
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Contact: Mechal Weiss
mechal.weiss@edelman.com
212-642-7731
Edelman Public Relations
20-Sep-2005