The Role of Antiviral Drugs in the Case-Management of Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza and COVID-19

Background: The Respiratory Syncytial, Influenza and the SARS-CoV-2 viruses have a lot in common and are intertwined as leading causes of respiratory infections (flu) and flu-like infections in humans. The morbidity, mortality and disease burden posed by these diseases across the globe is humongous. The epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentations and sequalae of these respiratory illnesses are also very similar and could be safely described as a spectrum of a disease process ‘syncytial respiratory disease’. There is justification in simultaneously studying, investigating and researching on these diseases given their close similarities and thin differences. Methods: This is a review of the literature on Case-Management for RSV, Influenza, COVID-19 and the role of Antiviral drugs. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE (from Jan 2019 to January 2021), EMBASE (from Jan 2019 to January 2021), Publics Ovidius Naso (Ovoid), Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in Issue 1 of 12, January 2021 of the Cochrane Library was performed. Short-listing of titles and abstracts on the basis of their relevance to the review and subsequent data extraction were undertaken independently by two out of the four authors (TSI and PUI). Differences were resolved by mutual consensus. Results: The Respirtory Syncitial Virus (RSV), Influenza and SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) virus were all examined in detail. The similarities and differences were x-rayed, including the mechanism of transmission, pathophysiology and pathogenesis of each. The methods of treatment especially susceptibility on antiviral agents were discussed. Conclusion: The similarity indices between RSV, Influenza and SARS-CoV2 are strong. Non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical measures are required for holistic cure and total eradication of these diseases. Effective and efficient antiviral agent(s) are needed for active management of these groups of viruses and science is challenged to this effect.