respiratory syncytial virus

Main Entry: respiratory syncytial virus
Function: noun
: a paramyxovirus (genus Pneumovirus) that has numerous strains, forms syncytia in tissue culture, and isresponsible for severe respiratory diseases (as bronchopneumonia and bronchiolitis) in children and especially in infants —abbreviation RSV

respiratory syncytial virus n.
Abbr. Rs virus
An RNA-containing virus that causes minor respiratory infections in adults and bronchitis and bronchopneumonia in children.

respiratory syncytial virus   (rěs'pər-ə-tôr'ē)  Pronunciation Key  A virus of the family Paromyxoviridae and the genus Pneumovirus that causes severe childhood respiratory infections, especially bronchiolitis in infants.