I remember one morning a few years ago when my friend called me crying and was so upset. I asked her what was wrong, and she told me a story from the night before when her young child seemed to almost stop breathing. She said it was the scariest night of her life. He was wheezing, coughing, and almost could not catch his breath. They ended up calling the ambulance because his breathing was so labored. After spending the night in the hospital and taking breathing treatments, she found out it was RSV. He was going to be okay, but she was scared to death. I would have been too! She had not even heard of RSV before this. What is RVS? Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common, seasonal virus that affects two-thirds of all infants by age one and almost 100% of babies by age two, because it’s highly contagious. RSV can live on surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, toys, bedding) for several hours and is often spread through touching, hugging and kissing. Daycare increases this risk of RSV spreading as children are constantly sharing toys, tables and high chairs as well as eating and napping in close quarters.

Most cases of RSV seem to occur during the months of November through March. It’s that time of year when people are in closed quarters together and many illnesses are shared. I know here in Rhode Island there have been many different ailments going around our community in the past few months. You need to do your best to protect yourself and teach your young kids to be healthy as well; for instance washing their hands often. You should also be aware of the signs of RSV so you know to get care and you know what you are dealing with when it becomes serious!

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)

Most cases with milder symptoms of RSV will likely run its course without any cause for parental alarm. It is important to keep sick kids home when possible to prevent the spread of germs and viruses. Sick kids are contagious and can spread it to those that are in the higher risk for serious reactions to RSV, so be responsible and help prevent others from getting it from your child.

Check out the infographic below about RSV. It includes great information about RSV and how to recognize the signs and prevent spreading the virus.

Important Information

A few facts about RSV that all parents, caregivers and loved ones should know:

• Almost every baby will contract RSV by age 2, but only 1/3 of moms say they’ve heard of the virus.
• Serious RSV infection is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, responsible for more than 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 500 infant deaths each year.
• RSV occurs in epidemics each fall through spring. The CDC has defined “RSV season” as beginning in November and lasting through March for most parts of North America.
• Certain babies are at an increased risk of developing serious RSV infection, so it’s important to speak with a pediatrician to determine if a baby may be at high risk for RSV, and discuss preventive measures.  
• Symptoms of serious RSV infection include: persistent coughing or wheezing; rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths; blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails; high fever; extreme fatigue; and difficulty feeding. Parents should contact a medical professional immediately upon signs of these symptoms.
• There is no treatment for RSV, so it’s important for parents to take preventive steps to help protect their child (wash hands, toys, bedding frequently; avoid crowds and cigarette smoke).

You can also get more information about this serious topic from RSVprotection.com. The more you are educated about the topic, the more you will know to help your child if you encounter this virus. Hopefully you can recognize the signs and get help. I felt awful for my friend who had no idea what was happening with her son. It was a very scary time and she had no clue what could be wrong with him. She actually educated me about RSV as well, because I had not been familiar with it at the time. Please spread the word about this virus and how to protect your loved ones! A tweet, share, or comment is much appreciated to get the word out about RSV and to hopefully protect the babies and young kids in our lives. 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. Let’s protect these little ones!

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.

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