RSV or respiratory syncytial virus affects nearly all babies before they turn two. In most children and adults, the symptoms manifest themselves as a simple cold, runny nose and maybe a slight fever. In infants who are at risk however, RSV can develop serious and sometimes even fatal complications.
RSV season in most parts of the country, is from the fall until early spring. It is during this time that your infant is most at risk of developing serious RSV disease. RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalizations in the United States with 125,000 babies being hospitalized every year. 500 infants die annually of RSV complications and serious RSV can cause problems later in life such as asthma.
What’s difficult about RSV is that while initial symptoms present as common cold symptoms, they can quickly get worse. It is important, if your child is high risk, to prevent the spread of it. Your child is at high risk if:
* he/she was premature
* was a multiple
* congenital heart defects
* chronic lung disease
* respiratory problems such as asthma
* has an immunodeficiency
* there is a family history of asthma
Symptoms
You obviously wouldn’t take your child to the doctor every time that he/she has the sniffles, nor should you. However, if your child has one or more of the risk factors mentioned above, you should pay special attention for the following:
* wheezing
* coughing
* rapid breathing
* problems breathing or gasping for breath
* blue color of lips or around the mouth
Since worsening symptoms can be life threatening, you should call your child’s pediatrician immediately if you see any of these symptoms.
Prevention
I know in this day and age there are a thousand and one things designed to keep the germs at bay. Grocery buggie covers, special hand gels, and I even saw one mother who brought wipes with her everywhere. While I’m not saying not to do these things, the most effective way to ward off germs still is washing your hands thoroughly in warm water and soap.
I have to emphasize the thoroughly part here. When I tell my kids to wash their hands they stick them under some water, put a little soap on, wiggle them a little bit and voila–they’re done. This is not what I mean by thoroughly and while most moms know that, it is doubtful that older siblings do. It is definitely worth the effort to make everyone coming home–dad from work, older siblings from school, etc. wash their hands for at least two minutes in warm sudsy water.
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