No parent wants to see their child struggling to catch their breath. Unfortunately, respiratory illnesses that affect the nose, lungs, and airways of children and babies are fairly common. One of the most frequent culprits of breathing-related illnesses among infants and young children is the Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV.
What is RSV and what are its symptoms? How dangerous is it and is there any cure? Can you do anything as a parent to prevent your little one from catching this disease? Our VNA experts will provide the answers to all these questions and more in this short guide.
VNA Health Care is your trusted destination for non-emergency, primary healthcare services in the suburbs of Chicago. VNA provides a wide range of medical services at affordable rates to all, including underserved communities, as well as residents who are uninsured or underinsured. New patients are always welcome at VNA.
For more information on our pediatric services, including school and sports physicals, immunizations, and vaccinations, or to book an appointment with a VNA pediatrician or pediatric nurse practitioner, give us a call at (630) 892-4355.
What Is Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)?
Respiratory Syncytial (“sin-sish-ul”) Virus is a fairly common virus that attacks the respiratory system in our body. Although RSV can infect people of all ages, it is more dangerous for infants, small children, and elderly adults.
In most adults with a healthy immune system, the virus does not cause severe symptoms. When an adult contracts it during winter months, an RSV infection produces symptoms similar to the common cold. But in children and the elderly, the virus can cause serious issues like bronchitis and pneumonia.
RSV Common Symptoms
The virus is easily transmitted between people and can spread quickly. Once you are infected, symptoms usually appear within 4 to 6 days. In adults and older children/teenagers, the virus only causes mild symptoms, including:
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Mild fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
However, when the virus infects a small child or baby, the symptoms can become severe. The virus will travel down the nose and throat into the lungs and cause inflammation of the airways, a condition called bronchiolitis. RSV infection can have the following symptoms among young adults and children/infants:
- Unusual fatigue and slowness
- Difficulty breathing – short and rapid breaths
- Cough
- No interest in feeding
- Irritability leading to constant crying
While older children and adults recover within a week or two without any trouble, RSV infections in infants can lead to life threatening conditions that require hospitalization.
How Dangerous Is RSV for Infants and Young Children?
RSV can lead to hospitalization among young children under the age of 5. The CDC estimates that up to 80,000 young children require hospitalization each year in the US due to RSV infections. However, the risk is not evenly distributed – some children are more likely to end up with a severe case of RSV. They include:
- Premature babies
- Babies under the age of 6 months
- Young children with heart disease, lung disease, or other health condition
- Children with weak immune systems
- Children with other health issues
Diagnosis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus
VNA primary care doctors and nurse practitioners may suspect RSV infection based on the child’s physical and exam findings and the time of the year the symptoms appear. During the physical exam, the VNA provider will use a stethoscope to listen to the patient’s lungs and identify if there is wheezing or other abnormal sounds.
Lab and imaging tests may be required in some cases. These additional tests can help rule out other medical conditions with similar symptoms as well as diagnose any complications of RSV. Tests for a confirmed diagnosis may include:
- Physical exam
- Chest x-rays to look for lung inflammation
- Blood tests to check for pathogens and determine white blood cell count
- Swab of secretions from the nose or inside the mouth to identify signs of the virus
- Pulse oximeter (non-invasive skin monitor) test to check blood oxygen levels
Treatment, Cure, Prevention, and Vaccines for RSV
Many viral diseases do not have any direct cure. The same is true for RSV infections. Treatment mainly includes supportive care. Doctors and nurses may recommend Tylenol or another acetaminophen medication (which is available over-the-counter) to reduce the fever. They will advise you to avoid administering aspirin if the patient is a child.
If your child has a stuffy nose, suctioning and nasal saline drops may be used to help clear it. If the diagnostic tests reveal bacterial pneumonia or another bacterial complication, our child’s pediatrician may prescribe antibiotics. Children with severe symptoms may be admitted to the hospital to receive oxygen and IV fluids. In extreme cases, some will need the assistance of ventilators to breathe. However, in most cases, children with RSV will respond to treatment and recover within a few days.
So far, no vaccines have been developed to prevent RSV infection among children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted on February 28 and March 1 to recommend FDA approval for two RSV vaccines, one made by GlaxoSmithKline and one by Pfizer, for adults aged 60 and older. According to Scientific American, the FDA, which typically follows VRBPAC’s recommendations, is expected to issue a decision by May. Two other new RSV vaccines—Moderna’s for older adults and Pfizer’s for pregnant people—are headed for FDA consideration this year. Regulators could also approve nirsevimab, a new long-acting monoclonal antibody that offers protection similar to a vaccine in infants for up to five months, which is about the length of a typical RSV season. Nirsevimab is already approved in Europe.
Research is ongoing. Meanwhile, you can do certain things as a parent to reduce the risk of an RSV infection, especially if your child belongs to a high-risk category:
- Wash hands often – both adults and children.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed fingers.
- Avoid contact with people who have symptoms of RSV infections.
- Clean and disinfect common surfaces at home that children and adults touch.
- If your infant has older siblings, take extra care as babies often get infection from other kids.
Unfortunately, there is no 100% secure way to prevent an RSV infection. The virus is so common in our communities that nearly all children get infected by the time they reach the age of 2 years old. All you can do is exercise extra caution during the peak seasons – from fall to winter – and contact your child’s pediatrician as soon as your child experiences any warning signs, like difficulty in breathing.
Why Should You Consult a Pediatrician for Your Baby’s Health?
A medical doctor with specialized training in treating children is called a pediatrician. These doctors are trained to identify and treat a wide range of health issues and diseases that affect babies, young kids, and teenagers.
The leading professional organization of pediatricians in the United States is called the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Most guidelines for parents and healthcare professionals in handling children’s illnesses come from the AAP.
How Do Our Pediatricians Help in Your Child’s Care?
The first time you will ever see a pediatrician as an adult is probably when you have a baby. Even if the baby is healthy and free from any diseases, you should take them to a pediatrician for regular checkups. These checkups are called “well-baby” visits.
Under the guidelines of the US Department of Health and Human Services, parents should take their infants for a minimum of 6 well-baby visits in the first year after birth. The first ever well-baby visit should ideally be done 3–5 days after birth.
Apart from the well-baby checkups, the pediatricians at VNA Health Care perform a broad range of additional services throughout the early life and development of your child, including:
- Give all government-recommended vaccines to your baby to protect them from deadly diseases.
- Make sure that your child is on track for all developmental milestones in body growth, motor skills, and so forth, through regular well-child visits.
- Inform you about things you need to do to protect your child’s health – diet, nutrition, hygiene, fitness, and more.
- Diagnose any serious illnesses in your child, refer you to a specialist, and coordinate care if necessary.
- Conduct annual child physical exams for school and sports enrollment.
VNA Pediatric and Family Practice Doctors and Nurse Practitioners
Children who visit VNA may see a provider specializing in pediatrics or family practice. Family practice doctors and nurse practitioners care for patients of all ages. Doctors who receive a pediatrician’s training and pediatric nurse practitioners focus on providing care to children including wellness checkups, vaccinations, and treatment for specific health conditions that are more likely to affect younger individuals. The advantage of VNA is that parents can easily schedule a visit with a provider in either department as needed. Families .
Many pediatricians receive additional training in medical school and complete a pediatric residency in treating children of specific age groups. VNA pediatricians and pediatric nurses are certified by the American Board of Pediatrics to provide care to children of all ages including infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
VNA providers and staff also have the ability to coordinate care and refer VNA patients when medically necessary to local area hospitals or specialists who focus on pediatric surgery, critical care, oncology, cardiology, osteopathy, and endocrinology.
Contact VNA for All Your Healthcare Needs
Schedule a visit to a pediatrician or pediatric nurse practitioner at your nearest VNA Health Care center for all non-emergency child health issues. Our providers perform well-child visits, provide vaccinations, diagnose health conditions, and give you general advice regarding the optimal health and growth of your child. To book an appointment for your child or to schedule your baby’s checkups, give our friendly office staff a call at (630) 892-4355, or visit our contact us page. We are here to support and encourage the health and development of our community’s children!