RSV in Infants

What is RSV? Respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, is an airborne virus that causes infections in the lower respiratory tract. A viral lung disease, which is a lot like bad cold, as RSV has similar symptoms. Just like common cold, RSV is the most common cause of bronchitis (inflammation of lower airways) and pneumonia in infants and young children. It is common during winters and spring, and is highly contagious. RSV in infants can be managed, although in some cases, patients require hospitalization. For premature infants and high risk babies/children, RSV can turn life-threatening. Which is why it is important to know what causes RSV and watch out for its symptoms.

Contracting the RSV infection is easy, typically through physical contact such as shaking hands, kissing, and touching an infected person. Since RSV is contagious, the disease can easily spread from one person to another. The germs can survive on hands for 30 minutes or more, up to 5 hours on countertops, and for several hours on used tissue papers. Most frequently, RSV occurs between 1 - 6 months of age. Since there are different types of RSV, our body never gets immune to the virus. A person who suffered from RSV in childhood, can contract the disease over and over again for the rest of his life (oftentimes during the same season). Children who are more susceptible to developing severe cases of RSV are:

• Multiple births
• Infants with lung and/or heart issues
• Infants with weak immune systems
• Family has history of asthma
• Premature infants born 4 weeks prior to expected delivery date
• Infants younger than 1 year, between 6 weeks and 6 months
• Infants born with low birth weight, typically below 5 ½ lbs
• Infants who have school/day care attending siblings
• Infants exposed to cigarette smoke and/or air pollution

Symptoms of RSV
As discussed earlier, RSV symptoms resemble common cold. However, these symptoms can vary depending on how severe the infection is. Below are the symptoms and signs of RSV.

• Continuous cough and fever
• Breathing problems
• Flared nasal area
• Quick breathing or tachypnea
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Skin color turning bluish due to lack of oxygen; cyanosis
• Abdominal muscles getting contracted during breathing

Usually the symptoms of RSV can also resemble other medical problems or conditions. Hence, consult your baby's physician to diagnosis the problem as soon as any of these symptoms occur.

Treatment for RSV
Many physicians don't prescribe any antiviral drugs, in mild cases of RSV. But in more serious cases, the disease has to be treated under medical attention. The incubation period of RSV can last for about 4 - 6 days and the infection can last for a week or even more.

Depending on your child's age, health, medical history, extent of RSV infection, tolerance of medications, and your opinions/preferences, only your baby's physician can determine how to treat RSV. Typically the treatment may include:

• Administration of bronchodilator medications via inhaler to open the airways
• Administration of additional oxygen via mask, oxygen tent, or nasal prongs
• Proper fluid hydration by mouth or IV line
• Administration of antiviral medications for high risk infants
• Mechanical respirator to help the child breath for a while

Prevention of RSV
Preventing RSV is much more safe than following a course of treatment. Although RSV is contagious, there are certain steps you can take in order to keep your child as safe as possible from getting infected.

• Infants who are infected should stay at home till the incubation period is over
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly after you've touched someone who has cold
• Keep your child away from those who are suffering from cold
• Avoid too much populated areas and common places
• Avoid smoking cigarettes near the baby

Till recent times, there wasn't a vaccination available to prevent RSV. However, now there is and since it is very expensive, it is only limited to infants who have severe infection. Through regular vaccine administration, RSV in infants can be controlled before it turns into a life-threatening disease.