Parents beware: RSV season is here With late fall soon to arrive, expect an increase
in respiratory syncytial virus.
“RSV causes infection of the lungs and breathing passages,” says
Mary Anne Jackson, MD, chief of Infectious Disease at Children’s Mercy
Hospitals and Clinics. “RSV can infect the same person several times
during a lifetime, causing more severe illnesses (like pneumonia) in
infancy, but only a common cold in adulthood.”
Although RSV can occur at any stage of life, it is most severe in
children younger than 3 years old. In these children, it can cause a
lower respiratory tract illness like bronchiolitis or pneumonia, and
can even lead to respiratory failure.
In children age 3 and under, symptoms may include:
high fever
severe cough
wheezing
abnormally rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
bluish color of the lips or fingernails caused by lowered levels
of oxygen in the blood.
If your child is older than 3 years old, RSV symptoms may
include:
runny nose
sore throat
low-grade fever
mild headache
cough
general feeling of being ill.
The RSV infection usually lasts 2-8 days, but some cases may last
up to three weeks. Infections occur all over the world, and epidemics
can last up to five months.
Each year, RSV infections lead to more than 90,000
hospitalizations and about 500 deaths in the United States.
The good news is RSV can be prevented. The most basic thing to do
is to wash your hands after touching anyone who has either a cold or a
known RSV infection. There are also treatments that can be given to
protect infants who are at highest risk for severe illnesses if they
are infected with RSV.
Should you begin to notice any RSV symptoms in your child, please
contact your pediatrician immediately.
