With the epicenters of the syndrome being Hong Kong and Guangdong province in China, the illness has spread to more than 25 countries. However, infants and young children are not a special risk group for the syndrome. The characteristics of this syndrome include an incubation time of up to 10 days, prodromal signs such as fever, lower respiratory signs such as dry cough and a 9% case fatality rate. With the treatment yet to be known, patients have been given various antibiotics that are active against known bacterial agents. To control the infection, standard, contact and airborne should be taken. The number of children with mixed viral and bacterial respiratory tract infection could be up to 40%. Respiratory viruses cause a variety of respiratory illnesses in children. it's clinically difficult to differentiate between the causative...

These infections usually begin with cough, fever and rhino rhea. The lower respiratory tract may be involved within 24-48 hours. In young infants, life threatening apnea may occur in infections with respiratory syncytial virus and systemic symptoms in infections with influenza virus. Various patient groups are at high risk of viral lower respiratory infections. Viral lower respiratory tract infection in infants is commonly identified through bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The worldwide variation in management is due to lack of means to control viral lower respiratory tract infections.
Work Cited:

Woensel, J.B., W.M. Aalderen, and J.L. Kimpen. "Viral Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Infants and Young Children." BMJ Helping Doctors Make Better Decisions. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd., 5 July 2003. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. .