RSV

The baby has it. My life has turned upside down. Due to the inability to breathe through his nose, he has a hard time sleeping and thus we all have a hard time living. He won’t nap. This leads to meltdowns by about 4:00 PM that continue until about 8:00 PM when he collapses out of exhaustion and frustration that his parents CAN NOT figure out what he wants. He has also stopped eating as much and doesn’t like taking a bottle. Every bed time and chow time has become a struggle.

As treatment, he has been put on antibiotics and breathing treatments. He is responding well to this treatment plan. Light at the end of the tunnel.

So what is this little gem…

The following information was taken from here.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus that leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can be more serious in young babies, especially to those in certain high-risk groups.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary and differ with age. They usually appear 4 - 6 days after coming in contact with the virus.

Older children usually have only mild, cold-like symptoms, such as cough, stuffy nose, or low-grade fever.

Infants under age 1 may have more severe symptoms and often have the most trouble breathing.

In general, RSV symptoms include:

·   Bluish skin color due to a lack of oxygen (cyanosis)

·   Breathing difficulty or labored breathing

·   Cough

·   Croupy cough (often described as a "seal bark" cough)

·   Fever

·   Nasal flaring

·   Rapid breathing (tachypnea)

·   Shortness of breath

·   Stuffy nose

·   Wheezing

 

Expectations (prognosis)

Rarely, RSV infection can cause death in infants. However, this is unlikely if the child is seen by a health care provider in the early stages of the disease .

More severe RSV disease may occur in the following infants:

·         Premature infants

·         Infants with chronic lung disease

·         Infants whose immune system does not work well

·         Infants with certain forms of heart disease

 

Complications

In young children, RSV can cause:

·         Bronchiolitis

·         Croup

·         Ear infections

·         Lung failure

·         Pneumonia

Children who have had RSV bronchiolitis may be more likely to develop asthma.

 

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if breathing difficulties or other symptoms of this disorder appear. Any breathing difficulties in an infant are an emergency. Seek medical attention right away.