RSV is a virus that can affect children of all ages. The virus is spread through various methods, such as close contact and touching objects contaminated with the virus before touching the face. Although most children infected with RSV have mild symptoms, sometimes it can lead to a more severe infection.
It is found that most children are infected with RSV before the age of 2 years, and the spread of the infection can easily occur in children due to close activities or sharing toys with other children who may have the virus. Therefore, for the safety of the health of the child, parents should be aware of various information about the RSV virus, including symptoms, treatment, and prevention of infection with this virus.
Symptoms in children when infected with RSV virus
Children infected with RSV virus will show symptoms within 4-6 days after being infected. Children will have fever, stuffy nose, runny nose, loss of appetite, sore throat, cough, sneezing, wheezing, mild headache or may have other general symptoms. When infected, the virus affects the lungs, heart and immune system of the body and can lead to pneumonia or bronchitis.
Parents should take their child to see a doctor if they notice that their child’s chest sinks in with every breath, has difficulty breathing, has a high-pitched wheezing sound when breathing in and out, coughs up yellow, green or gray mucus, is not drinking milk, is lethargic, irritable, and may also have symptoms similar to dehydration such as crying without tears , urinating little or not at all within 6 hours, and has cold and dry skin.
RSV infection is treatable.
Care and treatment when children are infected with RSV virus will focus on treating symptoms caused by infection and symptoms affecting the respiratory system. Because at present, there is no medicine that is specifically used to treat RSV virus infection. However, parents can take care of children at home in various ways, such as:
- Bathe your child with warm water for about 15 minutes, but stop bathing if your child starts to shiver.
- Wear light clothing or a blanket that is not too thick for children.
- Give your child frequent sips of water to prevent dehydration.
- Turn on a humidifier to help your child breathe easier, but clean it daily with bleach to prevent mold and bacteria from growing.
- Clean your nose with saline and a red bulb.
Doctors may recommend over -the-counter medications such as paracetamol to reduce fever, and doctors may prescribe antibiotics if the child has complications from bacterial infections, such as bacterial pneumonia. Parents should read the label on the medicine bottle to use the medicine as directed and appropriate. Children under 4 years of age should not be given cough suppressants, and children should not be given aspirin, as this can cause life-threatening Reye’s Syndrome.
For infants with severe RSV symptoms, such as fatigue, rapid breathing, purple lips or nails, or other symptoms, parents should take the child to the hospital, as the child may need oxygen, intravenous fluids, or medication to open the airway.
RSV virus prevention
RSV can be prevented by separating food, drinks, utensils and toys for each child so that they do not share things, ensuring that children have enough fluids, washing their hands and those of their children regularly, especially when they are close to sick people, avoiding touching their face, nose or mouth, cleaning their belongings regularly, not smoking around children, covering their mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and isolating children with symptoms from other family members until the symptoms go away.
Although there is currently no vaccine that can prevent RSV infection, doctors may give infants and children under two years of age a preventive shot (Palivizumab) to prevent severe RSV complications, such as premature babies, those with chronic lung disease, certain types of congenital heart disease, or those with compromised immune systems. If a child is diagnosed as being in this risk group, doctors will give the shot once a month during an RSV outbreak.
All parents and guardians should be aware that healthy children can be infected with RSV more than once. Although the symptoms of a child’s re-infection are less severe than the first infection, taking care of cleanliness of both yourself and your child while sick is essential. You should also watch for any unusual symptoms so that your child can receive timely treatment before the symptoms become severe enough to be dangerous.