Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a prevalent respiratory virus that causes mild, frosty symptoms in children and adults, affecting your lungs and making it difficult to breathe. It was first discovered in 1956 when scientists isolated a virus from a population of chimpanzees with respiratory illness.
This highly contagious virus can be spread through droplets, and they are released into the atmosphere when the carrier sneezes, coughs, or blows his nose in the presence of others. A minor cold in an adult can become threatening when an infant contracts the virus. People of all ages can contract this disease, although it's pervasive for children under two years. It can be a difficult situation with young and premature babies.
AFC Urgent Care Short Hills can treat babies beginning at age 1. Any child younger than this should be seen by their pediatrician. Visit our walk-in center for medical treatment today.
Risk factors:
Certain risk factors can make some babies more prone to getting RSV than others. It's important to be mindful of these risk factors and keep your children safe regardless of their health status.
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Congenital heart disease
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Being Underweight
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Lung disease
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Premature birth
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Weakened immune system
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Tobacco smoke exposure while in the mother's womb
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Neuromuscular Disease( muscular dystrophy)
Symptoms Of RSV
Initial signs of RSV are identical to cold symptoms, including:
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Congestion
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Running nose
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Fever
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Cough
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Sore throat
After some days, these symptoms will clear up on their own in a few days.
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A barking or wheezing cough can be one of the first signs of severe sickness.
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In this case, the virus has spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing soreness of the small airways entering into the lungs.
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It leads to bronchitis( inflammation of small airways in the lungs)or pneumonia( infection of the lungs).
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Infants with intense RSV will have short, rapid, shallow breathing.
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It is recognized by the succumbing of the chest between the ribs and under the ribs, commonly known as Chest Wall Retractions.
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Their mouth, nails, lips, fingernails may turn a bluish color due to the absence of oxygen.
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Decrease in appetite.
Major Risks And Threats
RSV can make chronic health problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience more frequent attacks as a result of Rsv infection, people with congestive heart failure are likely to experience severe symptoms triggered by RSV.
RSV occurs each year in most states in the U.S during fall, winter, and spring.
If you come in contact with those who are born prematurely, you should take care to keep the infant healthy by doing all this:
Wash your hands often:
Always wash your hands with soap and assist the young ones to do the same for like 20minutes. Washing of the hands will help prevent you from germs.
Keep your hands off your face:
Resist touching your eyes, nose, mouth with unclean hands. It makes germs spread this way.
Avoid close contact with sick people:
Avoid sharing materials and utensils with infected people who show some symptoms.
Cover Your Cough And Sneeze:
Always remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Clean And Disinfect Surfaces:
Parents should make sure to clean and disinfect objects the patients frequently touch. When people with RSV touch surfaces, objects, they can quickly leave germs behind.
Anytime they cough and sneeze, droplets containing germs can land on surfaces and objects then remain there.
Healthcare providers frequently prescribe palivizumab to premature infants and young children with heart and lung conditions as monthly shots during RSV season.
The vaccine for RSV has not been found yet, and scientists are working hard to develop one.
Treatment Of RSV
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Medications to treat RSV include the antiviral drug called "ribavirin," which can also be used in high-risk cases.
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To maintain moist air and make breathing easier, use a cool-mist vaporizer.
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Remove sticky nasal fluids with a bulb syringe and saline drops.
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Give your infants fluids in small amounts throughout the day.
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Use non-aspirin fever reducers such as acetaminophen.
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Medications or procedures (incubators) to open their airways
