I talked with you all before about RSV and how Hispanic American children are at a higher risk. I want to share with you today some more information about RSV and ways to help keep not only your baby but other babies as well safe. RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus and it is extremely dangerous and contagious for babies within the first six months of life. Premature infants have a higher risk of serious complications or death from RSV due to their underdeveloped lungs and compromised immunity. As a premature baby myself who had medical complications I can tell you that many of those complications have followed me into adulthood.
Here are a few facts that you should know about RSV:
- Almost every baby will contract RSV by age 2, but only 1/3 of moms say they’ve heard of the virus.
- Serious RSV infection is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, responsible for more than 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 500 infant deaths each year.
- RSV occurs in epidemics each fall through spring. The CDC has defined “RSV season” as beginning in November and lasting through March for most parts of North America.
- There is no treatment for RSV, so it’s important for parents to take preventive steps to help protect their child (e.g., wash hands, toys, bedding frequently; avoid crowds and cigarette smoke).
- Certain babies are at an increased risk of developing serious RSV infection, so it’s important to speak with a pediatrician to determine if a baby may be at high risk for RSV, and discuss preventive measures.
- Symptoms of serious RSV infection include: persistent coughing or wheezing; rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths; blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails; high fever; extreme fatigue; and difficulty feeding. Parents should contact a medical professional immediately upon signs of these symptoms.
Before Visiting A Newborn:
– Call before you visit. New parents need time to set up a routine and bond. By giving them time to do so before you visit, you are respecting the new family.
– Postpone a visit if you feel that you may be getting sick, have recently been ill or exposed to illness.
– Remember that parents know best. If you feel they are being overprotective or overly cautious, just consider that only they know what’s best for the health of their new son or daughter.
– Offer to do something to ease their responsibilities as they spend time as a family, such as laundry, cooking or dishes. Sleep-deprived moms and dads will appreciate your help!
When Visiting a Newborn:
– Wash your hands frequently—upon entering the home and especially prior to holding the baby. Parents, and the new baby, will appreciate it.
– Leave toddlers at home, especially during the winter months. Young children, especially if they attend day care or preschool, often carry germs and viruses, like RSV, that are easily spread.
Also remember when you see a newborn or small baby out in public DON’T rush up and start touching it. You are spreading your germs to that baby and may make it seriously sick without even knowing it.
Learn More About RSV:
To learn more about RSV and find out ways to protect your child visit the MedImmune website.
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by MomCentral Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and received promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
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Very scary, I had never heard of RSV before, informative post and thank you for the important tips regarding visiting a newborn. Premature births always amaze me when I see how tiny the baby is, to hear there isn’t a cure for RSV makes it all the more important for parents to be aware of. Definately a post to share!
So sad to see the little children suffering…
I hope this season is gentle for everyone.
I know a young woman– a good friend of my son who grew up around my house–whose baby was profoundly affected by RSV. The thinking is that she may have picked it up while dropping off her older son at preschool. In otherwise healthy adults and kids, RSV may look like nothing more than a slight cough and runny nose–symptoms many kids have a lot of the time and is usually barely worth notice. As a former preschool teacher, I made it my policy to meet pregnant moms at the door to take older children and urged those moms to schedule a private meeting rather than attend full parents’ night functions when I had kids in my class with more runny noses than the norm. Thank you for spreading the word about this.
I really wish more people were aware of how their health affects those around them. This is a very serious virus. We lost our little girl at 4 months to this. If you or your children are sick, please stay home. Don’t drag them to the store or to run errands with you. Think of all the pregnant women and little children out there. You just might save someones life.
It’s pretty scary I have 3 kiddos and didn’t hear about this until you posted this a while ago, hospitals and doctors should make parents aware of things like this. I agree with Tammy if me or any of my kids are sick I avoid contact with other people because you never know if the person you pass it on to could get sicker than you.