As parents, our primary concern is always the health and safety of our children. We strive to protect them from any harm, and this includes safeguarding them from diseases. This article will delve into a common but often overlooked virus that can pose a significant risk to our little ones โ Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
What is RSV?
RSV is one of the most common viruses to infect children worldwide.1 By two years of age, 90% of children will have been infected with RSV at least once.1 While it may cause mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older, healthy children, it can lead to serious illness in infants and young children.2
RSV primarily affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts, which includes the nose, throat, and lungs.1 Despite how commonly it causes childhood illness, many of us have never heard of RSV. RSV symptoms range from mild to severe, often looking like the common cold or flu in early stages, which can make it difficult to diagnose.3
In babies and young children, the symptoms of RSV can look a little bit different. Some things you can look out for include:2
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Decreased appetite
- Coughing and sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
- Lethargy (appearing sluggish)
- Irritability
- Apnoea (pauses in breathing)
The dangers of RSV
While RSV might sound like just another common cold, itโs important to understand that for babies and young children, RSV can be much more dangerous. Symptoms such as a runny nose, coughing, and fever can easily be mistaken for other respiratory infections, but for vulnerable individuals such as premature babies, babies less than 6 months old, and children with chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems, RSV can lead to more severe complications.1, 2
These include:2
These complications can become severe and life-threatening, requiring hospitalisation and intensive care.1, 2 It is important for you to consult your healthcare professional immediately if you notice the following:2
Severe RSV infection and hospitalisation in early life increases the risk of your child developing recurrent wheezing, childhood asthma, and allergic sensitisation, impacting your child in the long-term and potentially into adulthood.1 As a result, it is important to be aware of RSV, its risks, how it spreads, and how to prevent it.
How does RSV spread?
Understanding how RSV spreads can help us take steps to prevent it. RSV spreads through droplets containing the virus when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes.1, 2 This means that an infected person can spread the virus by talking, laughing, or sneezing near another person.
But thatโs not the only way RSV can spread. The virus can also live on surfaces such as crib rails, toys, doorknobs, and even hands. If you touch a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touch your childโs face, they can become infected. This makes places where children gather, like daycare centres or schools, hotspots for RSV transmission.
What can I do to protect my child from RSV?
The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect your child from RSV. Regular hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of RSV.1, 2, 4 Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water.
Avoiding close contact with sick individuals can also help prevent RSV.2, 4 Try to keep your child away from anyone who has a cold, a cough, or a fever.2, 4 If your child is sick, keep them home from school or kindergarten until theyโre no longer contagious to help prevent the spread of the virus.2, 4 Cleaning and disinfecting potentially contaminated surfaces can also help reduce the spread of RSV.2, 4 Pay special attention to objects that are touched often, like toys, doorknobs, and countertops.
In a nutshell
RSV is a virus that commonly affects children but can easily go unnoticed. Itโs important to remember that RSV is highly contagious and can easily spread within households and schools, particularly in the autumn and winter months. Therefore, itโs crucial to be vigilant about symptoms. If your child has a runny nose, decrease in appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever, and wheezing, they may have RSV. In these cases, itโs essential to speak to your healthcare professional as soon as possible.
RSV is a silent threat that requires our attention. But, by staying informed and vigilant, we can protect our little ones from this potentially serious disease and help them stay healthy!
References
1. Schweitzer JW, Justice NA. Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) [Internet]. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. StatPearls Publishing; 2023 [cited 2024 Nov 11]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459215/?report=printable.
2. Seladi-Schulman J. RSV Season: When It Is, Symptoms, Prevention, Treatment [Internet]. Healthline. 2023 [cited 2024 Nov 11]. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/ health/rsv-season.
3. Olson D. RSV: The Annual Epidemic You May Not Know About (But Should) [Internet]. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. 2016 [cited 2024 Nov 1]. Available from: https://www.nfid.org/rsv-the-annual-epidemic-you-may-not-know-about-but-should/.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RSV in Infants and Young Children [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. 2022 [cited 2024 Nov 11]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/infants-young-children/index.html.
