What You Need to Know About the RSV Surge and How You Can Help Prevent It
Health Experts Weigh In On the RSV Surge.
Winter has not arrived yet but many parts of the country are seeing an early rise in illnesses such covid, flu, and RSV. Some have started calling it a tripledemic. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been especially concerning to families with young children and pediatric health facilities.
The number of cases of RSV is abnormally high for this time of year. RSV most commonly occurs during the late fall and winter months. This year healthcare facilities have already seen a high number of RSV cases that started as early as summertime. Many hospitals are overwhelmed and struggling because RSV cases are so high right now.
Pediatric doctors Dr. Daniel Ganjian, Dr. Jonathan Maynard, and Immunologist Dr. Juanita Mora spoke with Healthline to weigh in on the surge of RSV that is occurring. They believe there is a surge of RSV in the United States due to the fact that during the pandemic, people were practicing social distancing, masking, and hand hygiene so not as many people were infected with RSV. This makes people’s antibody levels against RSV decrease, which means they are more likely to get it. Also, many young children were never exposed to RSV because of the precautions taken during the pandemic so they have no immunity at all to the virus.2
RSV is not a new virus. It has been a major cause of respiratory illness for a long time. It affects the respiratory system including the lungs which can cause breathing difficulties. Symptoms of RSV include runny nose, sore throat, headache, fever, decreased appetite, cough, wheezing, irritability, decreased activity, decreased appetite, and issues breathing. According to Nemours Kids Health, you should contact your pediatrician if your child develops a high fever, is wheezing, is showing signs of dehydration, refuses to eat, or has cold symptoms that are worsening. Call 911 if your child is struggling to breathe, is very drowsy, or has lips or fingernails turning blue.1
There is no specific medication to treat RSV. You can provide supportive measures to relieve symptoms such as fluids, Tylenol, nasal washes, and rest. If symptoms are severe call your doctor or go to the emergency room.2
Most kids recover from RSV at home within a week or two. If your child is immunocompromised, born prematurely, younger than 6 months old, or has chronic lung diseases, congenital disease, or neuromuscular disorders, then they are at a greater risk of complications from getting RSV. To keep children and others safe from RSV the doctors recommend getting enough sleep, good nutrition, hand washing, wearing a mask, cleaning common surfaces, keeping up to date on flu and COVID vaccinations, and staying home if displaying any cold symptoms.2
Resources
1. Hirsch, L. (Ed.). (2022, October). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (for parents) — nemours kidshealth. KidsHealth. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/rsv.html
2. Radcliffe, S. (2022, October 28). RSV surge: Experts discuss symptoms, and when to seek medical care for your child. Healthline. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/rsv-surge-experts-discuss-symptoms-and-when-to-seek-medical-care-for-your-child
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