Ribavirin is sometimes used in the treatment of bronchiolitis for which patient population?

• A. Severe respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants
• B. Pneumocystis pneumonia in HIV
• C. Bacterial pneumonia in adults
• D. Influenza in children

Answer: (A)

Ribavirin is an antiviral used in bronchiolitis only in select high‑risk situations, specifically when the infection is caused by respiratory syncytial virus in infants with severe disease. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in young children, and in those with severe illness—often certain infants with prematurity, chronic lung or heart disease, or significant illness—the ribavirin treatment given in an inhaled form can be considered to help reduce viral replication and severity.

The other scenarios don’t fit because Pneumocystis pneumonia in HIV is treated with TMP-SMX or other anti-Pneumocystis agents, bacterial pneumonia in adults is treated with antibiotics targeting bacteria, and influenza in children is treated with agents like oseltamivir rather than ribavirin.