Ariana DiGrigorio launched a social media campaign after her infant was infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and hospitalized, warning other parents to be wary of this dangerous infection. RSV is a widespread virus that can infect the lungs and respiratory tract. Most children have already been affected by the illness by the time they are two-years-old. And while it usually shows up as mild symptoms in older children and adults, the virus can be devastating to the point of being potentially fatal for infants, premature babies, and older adults who may have weakened immune systems due to heart and lung conditions.
Antonio, GriGrigorio’s 8-month-old son, was diagnosed with RSV in February 2019. He caught the virus at a daycare center. Little Antonio had to spend six days in the ICU, where he received breathing treatments and was put on a respiratory ventilator. Thankfully, her child recovered and has now celebrated his first birthday. However, he continues to receive breathing treatments every four hours, and he must see a respiratory physician every couple of months. On August 23, the mother of four used her family’s experience to serve as a reminder to people to be more careful about potentially spreading germs to vulnerable children such as infants.
“RSV season. Adults – you are contagious up to 24 hours before you start showing symptoms!” she wrote alongside a photo of her son in the hospital. “Please keep your mouths/breaths away from a baby’s face, hands and feet. Don’t be the reason a baby is hospitalized (or dead) because the baby was ‘just so cute I had to kiss her!’”
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She also explained that while it can be hard to inform loved ones or even strangers to stay away from your child, their health is more important.
“Also, if you’re sick, please stay home,” she advised. “What might be a ‘sinus infection or ‘allergies’ to you, could translate to a life-threatening illness for a baby.”
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DiGrigorio’s messaged definitely resonated, and now it’s been shared over 20,000 times.
“RSV is most common from December to March,” Dr. Saumya Bhutani, a resident in ABC News’ Medical Unit, told “Good Morning America”. “It is very contagious and kids can get it from ‘respiratory droplets,’ basically meaning from the droplets of someone’s cough or sneeze, whether those droplets directly get into a child’s mouth, eyes or nose or the child touches surfaces like tables, cribs or toys that have those droplets on them.”
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RSV is also spread by direct contact, and the virus can live for hours on hard objects as well as countertops and toys. People who have RSV can be contagious for between 3 to 8 days. However, babies and those with jeopardized immune systems can keep propagating the virus for up to four weeks.
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The Centers for Disease Control says that there are a couple of steps you can take to help prevent the spread of RSV. Doing things such as frequently washing your hands, covering coughs and sneezes, keeping your hands away from your face, avoiding contact with people who are sick, disinfecting and cleaning surfaces, and staying home when sick, can all help keep babies safe.
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If you feel that you are experiencing symptoms of RSV, you should take special precautions to stay away from those who are most vulnerable to the virus, such as infants and the elderly.
By the age of two, nearly every child has contracted RSV. It usually appears as a cold and can be treated at home, but…
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RSV symptoms are very similar to that of the common cold and can include running nose, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, fever, and decreased appetite. Within infants, parents may notice lethargy, irritability, and breathing issues. RSV can cause bronchitis and pneumonia, and it is the most common cause of several severe infections among children under one.
There is not a vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Doctors say its extremely important to wash your hands and to keep a close eye on children and potential symptoms this winter.
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If your symptoms are mild, you probably don’t need to see a doctor, and most folks start feeling better in about a week or two. If your child is suffering from breathing issues (you can tell this by seeing if their belly muscles and skin pull back with each breath), has rapid breathing, a fever, a blue tinge to the skin, or symptoms of dehydration, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Source: Simple Most
