RSV in infants
RSV is an infectious virus that infects the respiratory tract and can cause serious illnesses ranging from mild colds to pneumonia. During the RSV season (which usually occurs between October and April but peaks in December or January), the virus can spread rapidly and cause serious illness in young children and infants. RSV can be transmitted in a variety of ways, from airborne droplets produced when coughing or sneezing to direct contact with an infected person or surface. Each year, 58000 to 80000 children younger than 5 years are hospitalized for RSV in the United States.
01How does RSV affect infants and young children?
Due to severe airway inflammation, the smaller airways of young children are more susceptible than older children or adults. Especially in infants with the smallest respiratory tract, respiratory syncytial virus infection is often the most difficult to cure.
These symptoms include persistent coughing or wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, blue skin due to lack of oxygen, apnea (apnea for more than 10 seconds), extreme fatigue, and irritability. Babies may also refuse to breastfeed or bottle feed and have difficulty sleeping. Severe infections can lead to serious complications such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
02treatment means
Is infected with RSV, treatment mainly involves controlling symptoms while helping the body fight off the virus. However, treatment options may vary depending on the child's age, symptoms, general health, and severity of the condition.
(1) supportive treatment
Supportive care is the mainstay, and most children can recover at home, but for infants with severe dehydration, feeding difficulties, or respiratory distress, hospitalization may be required. Common measures include:
Rehydration: oral or intravenous.
Nasal care: physiological saline drops nasal and nasal suction.
oxygen supplement: suitable for patients with blood oxygen saturation below 90%.
-assisted exhalation: for a minority of patients with respiratory failure or severe apnea.
(2) Bronchodilators
The use of bronchodilators (such as salbutamol and epinephrine) is controversial, with most studies showing no significant improvement in RSV infection, but may have a short-term benefit in some acute cases.
(3) Corticosteroids
Regular use of corticosteroids is of no apparent benefit and is recommended for short-term use only in cases of underlying asthma or reactive respiratory disease.
(4) Antibiotics
RSV is a viral infection that regular do not use antibiotics and is only recommend when a secondary bacterial infection occurs.
(5) Ribavirin
Ribavirin is an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of RSV and is only used in high-risk patients, such as those who are immunocompromised. Its high cost and potential adverse effects limit its widespread use.
03Means of prevention
Drug prevention
Palivizumab (Synagis): Used for passive immunization in high-risk infants, including premature infants, children with congenital heart disease or chronic lung disease.
Daily preventive actions
Prevention of RSV infection mainly involves good hygiene and minimizing contact with infected persons. Here are some practical measures that can be taken to protect against respiratory syncytial virus infection:
hand hygiene: regular hand washing, especially after public places, can be very effective in preventing the spread of the virus.
Avoid close contact: Keep infants, especially those under 6 months of age, away from people with cold symptoms or who do not wash their hands.
Clean surfaces: Disinfect surfaces that people often touch (such as toys and door handles) on a regular basis to prevent the spread of viruses.
Avoid touching the face: Remind children to avoid touching their own face, as this is a common way for viruses to enter the body through contaminated hands.
: Teach your child to cover his nose and mouth with a tissue or elbow when sneezing or coughing.
04Conclusion
RSV is a highly contagious virus that threatens infants and young children, especially those at high risk. Although the treatment is mainly supportive care, the infection rate and the risk of severe illness can be significantly reduced through basic preventive measures and appropriate drug prevention. To reduce the global burden of RSV, further research is needed to develop more effective therapeutic and vaccine regimens.
Reference Source:
[1]https://pmc-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=zh-CN&_x_tr_pto= SC &_x_tr_hist=true#s5
[2]https://www-capitalareapediatrics-com.translate.goog/blog/what-is-rsv-and-why-is-it-a-concern-for-infants-and-young-children?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=zh-CN&_x_tr_pto= SC
[3]https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/rsv/treatment
Disclaimer: This article is for the purpose of information exchange only, and the views expressed in this article do not represent the position of Zhongyi, nor do they represent support or opposition to the views expressed in this article. This article is not a treatment plan recommend, if you need to get treatment plan guidance, please go to a regular hospital.
copyright description: the content of this message includes some pictures from Pixabay and other websites, and the content of the article comes from the website of the reference source. if there is any copyright problem, please contact us and delete it.
