I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for MedImmune. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
Do you know anybody whose kids who have RSV? I know a couple. One of my husband's cousins had RSV (he was full term). My cousin's child had it when he was 2 (aff) (yeah, they can get it that old and he ended up in Children's Hospital in Wisconsin because of it). RSV is nothing to sneeze at (pun intended).
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common seasonal virus, contracted by nearly all children by the age of two, and typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms in healthy, full-term babies. Preterm infants, however, are born with undeveloped lungs and immature immune systems that put them at heightened risk for developing severe RSV disease, often requiring hospitalization. RSV infection is more likely to root in premature lungs where developing airways are narrowed and especially fragile. Preterm babies carry fewer virus-fighting antibodies—a precious gift from mom that all infants need while their own immune systems mature after birth
Here are some key RSV facts we all need to know:
- RSV occurs in epidemics each year, typically from November through March, though it can vary by geography and year-to-year
- RSV disease is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies during their first year of life in the United States, with approximately 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 400 infant deaths each year
- RSV disease is responsible for one of every 13 pediatrician visits and one of every 38 trips to the ER in children under the age of five
- Despite being so common, many parents aren’t aware of RSV; in fact, one-third of mothers have never heard of the virus
The most important thing is to learn the Symptoms of Severe RSV Disease:
- Persistent coughing or wheezing
- Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
- Rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths
- Fever [especially if it is over 100.4°F (rectal) in infants under 3 months of age]
I just brought my own 6 year old son (who was born 3 (aff) weeks early) for a persistent cough to the doctor last night. In this season, you can't ever be too careful. We are leading up to November 17—World Prematurity Day—and I am hoping to educate everyone about the potential risks associated with preterm births. It’s the perfect time to remind parents—especially parents of preemies—about one seasonal virus that poses a threat to infants.
🙂