RSV -- or respiratory syncytial virus -- is a common cold virus. However, the effects of RSV on small children are more severe than that of adults. The CDC states that almost every child will be infected with RSV by the time he is one year old. Some children are unable to clear mucous from their nasal passages and airways, which inhibits breathing. Compounding the problem, most infants are nose breathers so they cannot or do not know how to breathe through their mouth.
RSV Symptoms
- runny nose
- sneezing
- fever
- decreased appetite
- breathing difficulty such as wheezing
- irritability
- decreased activity and fatigue
When Should I Call My Doctor?
It is important to monitor your child closely when he has a cold. The following observations may indicate your child needs professional medical care:
- Refusal to eat or drink accompanied by a decrease in the number of wet diapers per day.
- Extreme lethargy (sleeping excessively and/or a significant decline in normal activity).
- A high fever, especially if it remains uncontrolled after receiving over-the-counter fever reducers such as Tylenol and ibuprofen.
- Increased work of breathing manifested as blue or gray skin coloration (most noticeable around the lips), gasping, wheezing, or increased respiratory rate.
RSV Treatment
Treatment focuses on symptoms in mild cases. In severe cases, treatment may include the following:
- delivery of oxygen
- suctioning the nasal passages and back of the throat to remove excess mucous
- giving medications which dilate the bronchi such as Albuterol
- giving intravenous fluids to rehydrate and thin secretions
- intubation (insertion of a breathing tube) and placement on a mechanical ventilator
RSV Prevention
RSV is spread via saliva and nasal secretions when they are coughed or sneezed out and then inhaled by an uninfected individual. It is also spread by kissing, drinking off an infected person’s drink or using his utensils. RSV can live on surfaces such as countertops or cribs for hours. Handwashing and disinfecting household surfaces are important measures in preventing the spread of RSV.
A medication called Synagis (palivizumab) is available for high-risk children. The medication can only prevent the infection of severe RSV but cannot treat someone already infected.
The majority of healthy individuals can fight RSV infection without medical intervention. Certain children and high-risk individuals who have suppressed immunity due to HIV infection, cancer treatment, or old age may require hospitalization. With proper treatment, most people make a full recovery.
Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV). Accessed: February 16, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/transmission.html.
