RSV: It's That Time of Year Again

Good afternoon to all of those that follow His Middle Name, both old and new. It's a pleasure to announce that His Middle Name now has over 400 Facebook friends! To all of you that support this endeavor, thank you and welcome to our little community of hope. Its been about a month since my last blog post, but a family vacation was much needed to give us a break from the winter doldrums. Once we returned home, my husband Brad and I were amazed that Sutton didn't get sick during our entire trip. With all of the changing planes, changing hands, and new places to explore, we marveled at the fact that Sutton remained healthy. We felt especially grateful given that we are in the midst of cold and flu season. With that said, friends of ours have not been so lucky. RSV is rampant this winter, and I personally know several families that have been affected. What is surprising is that many parents have no idea what RSV is or how it is spread, and what can be done to prevent it.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus(RSV) is a respiratory virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages. RSV is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to serious health problems, especially for those born preterm and those with special health care needs. Children under the age of two may be at high risk for a severe infection which can cause pneumonia or bronchiolitis, which is inflammation of the small airways in the lungs. These conditions can lead to serious complications, re-hospitalization and in some cases, even death. What's more unsettling is that individuals can get RSV more than once, especially premature infants or those with lung and breathing issues, such as asthma.
As with many viruses, once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is limited to managing symptoms and any discomfort. A severe RSV infection may lead to a serious lung infection and possible hospitalization, while a less severe case may only need the use of a fever reducer or a misting nebulizer. Keeping yourself and your babies healthy is always easier said than done, but you can take preventative measures to lower your family's risk of contracting RSV. Below I have listed the risk factors, symptoms and preventative measures that can help lower your risk and your baby's risk of developing RSV. I have also featured a pre-recorded podcast from the CDC regarding RSV. It's only a few minutes, so please take a listen and be well!

Risk Factors:

• Young chronological age (especially children under the age of two)
  
• Being around other children at daycare.
• Family history of wheezing or asthma.
• Exposure to tobacco smoke and other air pollutants.
  
• Low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds).
• Crowded living conditions.
• Pre-school or school-aged sibling(s).
• A congenital heart defect (CHD) or heart condition.
• Chronic lung disease like cystic fibrosis.
• Weakened immune system due to illness or treatments.

Symptoms:

• Chronic coughing, sneezing or wheezing
  
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Fast breathing or gasping for breath
• Spread-out nostrils and/or a caved-in chest when trying to breathe
• A bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
• A fever of 100.3 or higher
  
• Mild sore throat
• Loss of appetite
• Trouble sleeping

Prevention:

• Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your baby, and ask others to do the same.
• Cover your coughs or sneezes and show siblings how to practice good hygiene.
• Don’t let anyone smoke in your home or near your baby or child.
• Wash your baby’s toys, clothes and bedding often.
• Don’t share eating utensils and cups.
  
• Consider regularly disinfecting high-traffic hard surfaces such as door knobs and light switches.
  
• Keep your baby away or limit exposure to crowds, young children and anyone with colds.
• Talk to your pediatrician about palivizumab (Synagis®) shots during RSV season.

RSV Podcast