(RSV) Respiratory Syncytial Virus – Symptoms and Treatments

(RSV) Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a severe respiratory disease that can affect individuals of all ages while it affects babies the most seriously. Babies cannot cough up mucus like older kids or adults because their airways aren’t as well-developed. Additionally, because of their smaller airways, they are more susceptible to airway occlusion, which makes breathing difficult. Breathing issues, fatigue, coughing, and other symptoms are a few. Your infant can remain safe if you know the signs to look for and when to seek help.

RSV frequently includes a cough along with cold symptoms in many people. RSV in infants can result in bronchiolitis, a more severe condition. Wheezing occurs in addition to coughing in infants with bronchiolitis. It can result in pneumonia and other serious diseases. Babies might occasionally require hospital treatment.

As a virus, RSV cannot currently be treated with drugs to decrease the duration of the sickness. Instead, medical professionals frequently suggest therapies or cures assist relieve symptoms up until the illness is treated.

Between November and April, when cooler weather force individuals indoors and when they are more able to interact with others, people are more likely to spread RSV. RSV can also be spread earlier in the year by individuals. For instance, the RSV season began earlier in 2022, with a spike in cases in October.

RSV Symptoms in Infants

RSV symptoms in older children can exhibit cold symptoms. However, the infection shows itself more severely in infants.

Its symptoms typically appear in order of occurrence. Four to six days after being exposed to the virus, symptoms frequently start to appear. A newborn, however, might exhibit signs sooner or later.

RSV symptoms that a baby could experience include

  • Increased breathing speed
  • Breathing and feeding issues
  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Irritability
  • Sleepiness
  • Clogged nose
  • Sneezes
  • Chest muscles being used to breathe slowly

Premature infants, infants with heart abnormalities, infants who have a history of coughing or breathing problems, and other infants are often more likely to exhibit RSV symptoms.

When to seek RSV Medical Attention

RSV patients can present with anything from minor cold symptoms to severe bronchiolitis. If you think your kid may have RSV, call your pediatrician right once, even if the symptoms are slight. Always seek emergency medical attention if your infant seems to be having breathing difficulties.

Emergency warning signs include the following

  • Dehydration, such as dry diapers or no tears coming out when they cry.
  • Breathing difficulties, which may include ribs exposing through the skin as they breathe
  • A blue fingernail, which is cyanosis, is a symptom of extreme distress and a lack of oxygen.
  • Babies under three months of age with rectally measured fevers of more than 100°F (38°C)
  • Any child, regardless of age, with a fever higher than 104°F (39°C).
  • A child’s breathing is difficult due to a thick nasal discharge.

(RSV) Respiratory Syncytial Virus treatment for Babies

RSV may necessitate the assistance of a mechanical ventilator in the most severe instances. Until the virus disappears, this gadget can assist in expanding your baby’s lungs.

Many (RSV) Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases used to be routinely treated by doctors using bronchodilators. Bronchodilators are still used by certain clinicians to treat RSV, however, most specialists no longer advise this.

When treating wheezing in patients with asthma or COPD, doctors often prescribe bronchodilators; however, these drugs are ineffective for treating wheeze associated with RSV bronchiolitis.

Your kid’s doctor might also administer intravenous fluid if your newborn is dehydrated.

As antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, they will not improve your baby’s RSV. Viral infection causes RSV.

Is RSV Infectious?

An infant with RSV who is otherwise healthy can spread the infection to another person for 3 to 8 days. To prevent transmission, try to keep the sick youngster away from other kids or siblings.

(RSV) Respiratory Syncytial Virus can spread both directly and indirectly when two people come into contact with one another that is actively ill. It is possible to catch an illness by touching someone’s hand after they cough or sneeze, then wiping your eyes or nose.

The greatest method to decrease your chance of getting RSV is to wash your hands frequently in warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds each time. Helping your baby cover coughs and sneezes is also essential.

The virus can also survive for several hours on hard surfaces like a cot or toys. To assist stop the spread of germs, regularly clean your baby’s toys and eating and play areas if they have (RSV) Respiratory Syncytial Virus.