Babies can’t communicate as well as we do. As a result, parents and caregivers have to understand and look out for the various signs of the stages of development in their little ones. In fact, knowing the signs becomes much more important when a child has to deal with an ailment like RSV.
In this article, we’d answer every question you have about RSV; the most common cause of airway obstruction and pneumonia in babies.
Don’t Stop Reading!
In simple terms, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a virus that causes infection in the lungs (pneumonia) and airway inflammation (bronchitis) in babies. On the other hand, this virus only produces minor respiratory infections like cough or rhinitis in adults.
As we mentioned earlier, the virus is more serious in babies. This is because their developing airways in babies aren’t strong enough to cough up mucus as well as an older child. Eventually, this leads to airway obstruction.
Just like many other viral infections, there are no drugs that completely cure RSV. However, there’s a way out.
Keep reading to discover all you need to know and do.
RSV spreads when a baby comes in contact with nasal or oral fluids from an infected adult or child. Most times, this happens when he/she touches an infected surface/object then touches his/her eyes, mouth, or nose.
Furthermore, this virus may spread through droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze.
Due to the fact that children under the age of 2 experience the most serious symptoms of RSV, this section would focus on our precious little ones.
Here’s the fact: A child is more at risk for contracting the virus if he/she lives with or is around people with the virus.
Most times, this condition which is more common in winter and the early days of spring occurs in yearly outbreaks at schools, daycare centers, and communities. In fact, studies show that most babies get infected with RSV at least once in the first two years of life.
Furthermore, it is important to note that there’s a chance of reinfection. What this means is that a person who got the virus as a child may also get infected again as an adult. Thankfully, the symptoms in adults are often milder and easily managed.
In addition, preterm babies or children with an underlying heart, lung, or immune system disease often face a higher risk of RSV infection.
At the clinic, your pediatrician would ask important questions relating to your baby’s symptoms and health history. In addition, he or she may ask to know about recent illnesses in your family, or your baby’s school or daycare center.
Furthermore, this is accompanied by a physical examination and tests (usually a nasal swab or wash). This is a painless test that confirms the presence of the virus in nasal fluid.
As we mentioned earlier, for babies, symptoms are really important.
The first step to recognizing RSV in babies is to identify the symptoms. In most cases, the symptoms appear within 2 to 5 days after exposure to the virus.
Thankfully, the early phase of RSV in babies and children is often mild. You can just think of it is as a mild cold. However, it is important to note that the illness spreads and the symptoms may progress rapidly.
The common symptoms of RSV in children include:
Regarding prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:
These tips are more important for preterm babies or children with any form of congenital illness that affects the respiratory tract.
Furthermore, you can protect your little one from RSV by making hand washing a culture in your home. In fact, it is really helpful if people wash their hands or use an alcohol-based sanitizer before and after touching your baby.
In addition, we recommend removing your baby from any area where people are smoking.
If you’ve followed all the tips in this article and you still suspect that your baby has RSV, the next step is to contact your pediatrician or go to the hospital as soon as you can.
This becomes much more important if:
Finally, you’d need to seek urgent medical care if your little one’s fingernails or mouth suddenly becomes blue in color. This is usually a sign that he/she isn’t getting enough oxygen and is in severe distress.
Generally, the treatment plan depends on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health status. In addition, it also depends on the severity of the condition at the time.
As we mentioned earlier, most viral infections do not have a curative medicine. Therefore, the goal is to manage the symptoms and improve the baby’s general health status.
Depending on the factors highlighted earlier, treatment may include:
The good news is that your child can make a full recovery from RSV in one or two weeks. Nevertheless, if you observe any of the major warning signs we mentioned earlier, please contact your doctor immediately. Read our other article on zika virus
You’ve got this.
Vakrilova L, Nikolova SH, Slavov S, Radulova P, Slancheva B. An outbreak of RSV infections in a neonatology clinic during the RSV-season. BMC Pediatr. 2021 Dec 11;21(1):567. doi: 10.1186/s12887-021-03053-9. PMID: 34895173; PMCID: PMC8665584.
Stein RT, Bont LJ, Zar H, Polack FP, Park C, Claxton A, Borok G, Butylkova Y, Wegzyn C. Respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization and mortality: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017 Apr;52(4):556-569. doi: 10.1002/ppul.23570. Epub 2016 Oct 14. PMID: 27740723; PMCID: PMC5396299.
During pregnancy, it is important to stay as active, healthy and calm as possible to…
Selecting the right healthcare provider for your pregnancy and childbirth is a big decision. The…
Baby-proofing your home is an essential part of your journey as a parent. It's a…
Babies require extra attention and tender, loving care due to their fragile nature. A major…
The pregnancy journey was long and tedious but you made it through. You have got…
The journey of parenthood is a remarkable experience, filled with many moments of joy and…