Some viruses and ailments, such as the respiratory syncytial virus (RS virus), seem almost inevitable. Many young children are affected by this virus in their first year of life and a large proportion of children have had it by the age of 3. Most babies get RSV in the fall or winter. Read on to find out what to look out for.
Symptoms of the RS virus in your baby
Are you unsure whether your baby is suffering from the RS virus? Mild cases of the RS virus show the following symptoms:
- Nasal congestion
- Sneezing
- Earache
- Fever
Because the symptoms are so similar to other viruses, it’s hard to know for sure if you’re really dealing with the RS virus. Often you don’t need to be sure; the treatment is the same as for any other cold viruses. Most children get better after 3 to 7 days.
When the RS virus causes your baby to become very ill
Although most babies only catch a cold due to the RS virus, some children become very ill from it. It can lead to a severe inflammation in the lungs: bronchiolitis. In these cases, the listed complaints do not disappear after 7 days, Except for the fever, which may go down. If your child suffers from one or more of the symptoms below, contact your GP or the emergency GP service immediately. If your baby is short of breath, it is always an emergency!
- Oxygen deficiency: recognizable by grayish-blue skin around the mouth
- Quivering nostrils while breathing
- Retracting chest while breathing
- Wheezing and sawing noises while breathing
- Occasional breathing stops
- Difficulties when feeding
- Rapid breathing
- Drowsiness
- Reduced need to urinate
Greater risks of severe illness caused by the RS virus
Some children are at a greater risk of falling severely ill from the RS virus. Pay particular attention to your child if he or she falls into one of the following categories:
- infants under 6 months of age
- children under the age of 2 years who suffer from a severe heart or lung disease or Down syndrome
- children with a compromised immune system, e.g., due to leukemia or HIV
- children born prematurely.
In case of doubt, always contact your GP!
How to prevent an RS virus infection in your baby?
It is really difficult to prevent an infection with the RS virus. When someone who has an RS virus infection talks, coughs or sneezes, droplets containing the virus are released into the air. It can also be transmitted by hands after infected people have touched their nose, mouth or eyes. A child with RS virus can infect others before they develop symptoms. This makes it so difficult to prevent an infection. Most children are contagious for 1 week, but children under the age of 2 can remain contagious for up to 4 weeks. Although infections are almost impossible to prevent, it makes sense to adhere to the following precautions:
- Try to keep siblings away from your newborn baby.
- Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before touching your baby, especially if your baby is less than 6 months old.
- Also ask visitors to wash their hands before touching your baby.
- Keep people who suffer a cold away from your baby.
- Maintain a smoke-free environment for your baby.
In most cases, the RS virus is harmless. In your child’s young life, it will have to cope with many more viruses.
