Merry….RSV season?
That time of year is upon us. There is a lot of buzz this year about RSV because there are some new vaccine related to that. Here is the 411 on RSV that all parents should know.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes acute respiratory tract infections and can cause severe illness in infants and children. According to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), Approximately 58,000-80,000 children under the age of 5 and up to 3% of children in their first year of life are hospitalized due to RSV infection each year in the US and most children will get an RSV infection before the age of 2 years.
RSV spreads like a cold virus from person to person. It enters the body through the nose or eyes, usually from contact with infected saliva, mucus or nasal discharge. RSV symptoms are typically at their worst on days 3 through 5 of illness. Symptoms generally last an average of 7-14 days.
Symptoms you may see with RSV:
-Fever (temperature of 100.4 or higher)
-Cough (dry or wet sounding)
-Congestion
-Runny nose
-Sneezing
-Poor feeding
Symptoms to particularly be watching for: (these are what set RSV apart from a cold)
-Fast breathing
-Flaring of the nostrils & head bobbing with breathing
-Rhythmic grunting during breathing (see sound clip clip, below)
-Belly breathing, tugging between the ribs and/or the lower neck (see video, below)
-Wheezing
Watch your child’s rib cage as they inhale. If you see it “caving in” and forming an upside-down “V” shape under the neck, then they are working too hard.
Why is RSV so fatal for infants:
Babies are born with the tiniest of airways. Viruses like RSV inflame those airways, making it difficult to breathe. The smaller the airway, the less inflammation it takes to close it off. What’s more, viruses are usually more severe the first time they infect people. That means babies who have never been exposed to a virus like RSV may be hit harder than older children who’ve had previous RSV infections. Long story short, babies can become too fatigued trying to breath that they stop!
New this year, are a few vaccination options for the prevention of RSV to those with a risk factor.
RSV vaccine during pregnancy
Pregnant people can receive the maternal RSV vaccine at 32 through 36 weeks pregnancy if their baby will be born during RSV season. The vaccine reduces the risk of RSV hospitalization for babies by 57% in their first six months after birth.
Immunizations for infants:
Nirsevimab, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the brand name Beyfortus and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was shown to reduce the risk of medically attended cases of respiratory syncytial virus by 75% in clinical trials.
The AAP recommends a single dose of nirsevimab for:
All infants younger than 8 months born during or entering their first RSV season.
Infants and children aged 8 through 19 months who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season.
However, there is a known shortage of Beyfortus, so please consult with your Pediatrician to determine your risk factor and need for the RSV vaccination.
