Doctors Warn Against Kissing Babies As The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Spreads Through Winter

Dec 04, 2019

Respiratory Syncytial Virus, also known as RSV, is on the rise. It is often hard to tell if you have the symptoms because they are so closely related to the common cold. If you notice anyone coughing or sneezing, then it is wise to keep your baby away from these individuals.

It is also important to remember that if you have any of these symptoms that you too should stay away from infants as well as small children to help keep them healthy, warns Newsweek.

Symptoms of RSV

• Irritability
• Fever
• Wet cough
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Wheezing

The main difference between the common cold and RSV is how the virus attacks the airways. RSV is known to cause a lot of inflammation and secretions in the airways. These symptoms are not easy to diagnose, and the virus can be deadly reports Today's Parent.

If you pass this virus along to an infant, then it can take at least a month for them to get well. Although, with the knowledge that the virus can be deadly, it is not worth risking the chance of passing along the sickness.

There is no treatment for the virus, and it is a lot more contagious for infants under 6 months old. However, it does not only affect infants under 6 months old, and the virus has been known to put many small children in hospital.

If you find that your child is sick from the virus, then you can help them recover and try to help them feel a bit more comfortable while the virus cycles through their bodies. The best thing you can do as a parent with a sick child is to keep your child hydrated, use a humidifier, and use saline washes to try to help them breathe better.

These comfort solutions may be somewhat helpful, however, prevention is the number one cure when it comes to RSV, advises Dr. Claudia Vicetti in an interview with KWWL. This means that if you are feeling sick, it is wise to refrain from kissing your baby. It is extremely important to practice good hygiene as well as keep areas sanitized to further protect your baby.

Research has shown that the virus can last for hours on hard surfaces, therefore, wipe down counters, shopping carts, and any other hard surface your baby may come into contact with. It has also been suggested that the entire family gets the RSV vaccination.

As a reminder, you are the barrier that protects your baby from outsiders infecting your baby with the virus. Furthermore, it is highly recommended that parents as well as caregivers get vaccinated against the virus, and remember to thoroughly wash your hands.

If you have visited the doctor and your baby has the virus but does not show signs of getting well, then it is essential to return to the doctor. It is far more common for babies to catch RSV at this time of year, and the virus can move quickly within their little bodies.

One day your baby may be at the doctor, and the next day they may be rushed to a larger hospital, getting intubated, and struggle to survive the sickness.

It is important that everyone passes this information around as much as possible. It is up to every adult to help better protect infants and small children from getting viruses that can be deadly to them.

Think about the information that you have just learned, and let us know what you think. We are all working hard to keep up to date with the latest medical information, and we are constantly working to inform the public to better protect infants, children, and the elderly as often as possible.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!