Since the beginning of winter, as the temperature drops, adults are often prone to symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, coughing, and fever, not to mention children with weak resistance.
Winter is the peak season for respiratory diseases, and children's hospitals in various places are always "full". Among these small patients, some were "broken" by the flu, and some were infected with respiratory syncytial virus , etc. The corridors, clinics, and wards were either the baby's cough or the crying sounds, which made people feel heartbreaking.
When it comes to respiratory syncytial virus, many parents may be confused and do not understand it very well.
Today, Kangaroo Moma will unveil its "true face" with everyone.
1. What the hell is respiratory syncytial virus?
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV for short), is one of the most common respiratory pathogens in children. Almost all children have had at least one RSV infection before the age of 2.
RSV is an RNA virus . The dominant virus strain mutates every year and is prone to repeated infections. It is extremely contagious, and its main transmission routes are droplets (infected by sneezing) and close contact (such as touching and kissing infected people).
This virus is seasonal. The epidemic season in the northern region from November to April of the following year (mostly in January and February); it is prevalent throughout the year, and it is often in summer (May to July is the peak period). Therefore, the north is currently the epidemic period of the virus, and parents should be vigilant.
2. What are the symptoms of RSV infection? The incubation period of
RSV infection is generally 2 to 8 days, and symptoms usually appear after 4 to 6 days of infection with the virus.
Most healthy children have mild symptoms and early symptoms of infection after being infected with RSV are similar to common cold , and may have symptoms such as nasal congestion, cough, sneezing, runny nose, low fever, etc.
As the disease develops, in severe cases, dyspnea or shortness of breath, wheezing, irritability, loss of appetite, etc., and even respiratory failure, heart failure, etc.
For premature babies or children with severe heart disease, lung disease, immune dysfunction, etc., infection with RSV is very dangerous; in addition, RSV is the main pathogen of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants and young children before the age of 2 (2 to 6 months is the peak age for the onset of bronchiolitis), and parents should not take it lightly.
In addition to infants and young children, the elderly and people with low immunity are more likely to be infected with RSV, so prevention should also be done.
RSV is self-limiting. For children with relatively normal immune function development, if you have mild infections, you can take good care of your baby. For example, feeding a small amount of water to multiple times, using a humidifier appropriately, dropping a little saline into the baby's nasal cavity, and a few minutes later, use a nasal aspirator to help the baby discharge secretions in the nasal cavity, etc., which can generally heal itself.
But if the symptoms are serious, don’t bear it, otherwise delaying treatment may threaten the baby’s life.
Please go to the hospital in time when you find the following symptoms:
Body temperature is > 38.5℃, and it does not go down;
The baby is irritable, crying, and has a poor mental state;
The baby's appetite is greatly reduced, and dehydration is observed, etc.;
Difficult breathing and rapid, and the baby's nostrils are opened and breathing vigorously, and the muscles under the ribs or chest are sunken inward.
3. How to prevent RSV infection
Prevent RSV infection, parents can do this:
Wash your hands before contacting your child (such as hugging, feeding, etc.);
Don't share food and tableware, and regularly disinfect your baby's toys and clothes.
If you have colds, coughs, fevers, etc. in your home, try to avoid contacting your baby, or take corresponding protective measures (such as wearing masks, washing hands frequently, etc.);
During the high incidence of diseases, try not to take your baby to crowded places, such as supermarkets, shopping malls, amusement parks, etc.;
Keep indoor air circulating and open windows for ventilation;
has shown that Children exposed to "second-hand smoke" environment have a higher RSV infection rate. For the sake of the health of their children, we call on everyone not to smoke indoors or in public places;
If the child is susceptible to RSV, it is recommended to get influenza vaccination after 6 months, and people who often come into contact with their babies are also recommended to get vaccinated;
patients should be isolated and treated in a timely manner to avoid direct or indirect contact with infants, the elderly, frail and chronic patients.
Kangaroo has something to say:
After becoming a parent, what you fear most is that your child will get sick. Learn some parenting knowledge on a daily basis and achieve scientific prevention and care, so that your baby can get less sick and suffer less!
