My Weekend With RSV And What Every Parent Should Know About RSV Protection

I was not counting on having firsthand experience with RSV when I was writing this post (that I had scheduled for Friday). Well my daughter decided that this was really important information and wanted to give a play by play of what RSV is like (nose swab was positive at the doctor) and then of course her brother became sick. He’s four so his symptoms were  just a runny nose, cough, and congestion but they still kept him up at night and clingy during the day! My daughter does go to Montessori two days a week so I am aware of the risks of her being sick more often.

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) prevention is very important especially for premature infants who are very susceptible to infection. RSV typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms, but in some babies it results in a serious respiratory infection. Those most at risk for severe RSV include premature infants, as their lungs aren’t fully developed and they have fewer infection-fighting antibodies than full-term babies.

The RSV season typically runs from November through March, so during the winter months parents should be especially careful to watch for signs of RSV. Below are symptoms of severe RSV infection that require immediate medical care:

• Coughing or wheezing that does not stop
• Fast or troubled breathing
• Spread-out nostrils and/or a caved-in chest when trying to breathe
• Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
• Fever (especially if it is over 100.4°F in infants under 3 months of age)

Caety did have troubled breathing and thankfully we have a nebulizer from when our son was a baby. We gave her breathing treatments at home to help her breathing which was very fast and she was wheezing a lot. She had us very worried Friday night and neither one of us slept much!

If a child has milder symptoms of RSV, the virus will likely run its course without any cause for parental alarm. It is important; however, for these parents to remember that even a mild case of RSV can be spread to other children, some of whom may be at high-risk for developing a serious infection from the virus. For this reason, it’s always best to keep a sick child home when possible, to prevent the spread of germs and viruses.

Once contracted, there is no treatment for RSV, so working together to prevent the risk of RSV is critical. All parents should take steps to prevent the spread of the virus, including always washing their hands and child’s hands, and asking others to do the same. It’s also important to remember to keep toys, clothes, blankets, and sheets clean and avoid crowds and other sick children during RSV season. I’ve already started war against our house and I’m currently washing all of our surfaces with Lysol and have seriously just thrown a load of bedding in the wash! Next are both kids’ stuffed animals and pillows. I’m hoping the sickies go away with the hot water!

Prevention is especially important for babies at increased risk of becoming ill from RSV. Parents of preemies should be informed of the dangers of RSV, as well as the risks that certain child care settings can present. If possible, parents of high-risk babies may want to consider alternate options, such as nannies or in-home daycare centers, where exposure to dangerous germs can be minimized. Regardless of child care settings, it’s important for parents who believe their child may be at high-risk for RSV to speak with a doctor about prevention.

Did you know that almost 100% of kids by the age of two will contract RSV?? Wow, I had no clue it was that prominent! The chart below shows the facts on RSV and is an excellent source for prevention.

For more information on MedImmune RSV Awareness visit the RSVProtection website.

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.