For parents, fall brings an added concern, because it marks the beginning of the cold weather and all the germs and potential illnesses that come with it. For parnts of babies under one, there is an added concern to worry about: RSV. Just what is RSV?
You might have heard of RSV, or perhaps you haven’t … the symptoms are similar to a regular cold, so maybe parents don’t realize that their babies have had it! Some babies will be more prone to suffer complications from RSV that can end them in the hospital; this is especially true if the baby is a preemie, since its lungs are more fragile than full-term babies.
WHAT IS RSV?
It stands for respiratory syncytial [sin-sish-uhl] virus. It is a contagious viral disease that may infect a person’s lungs and breathing passages.
WHY IS RSV DANGEROUS FOR BABIES?
Almost 100 percent of babies get RSV in their first year.
RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization of babies under a year old in the USA.
IS RSV PREVENTABLE?
YES! RSV is preventable through some easy precautions that you can take to minimize exposure and kill the virus:
Visit bit.ly/RSVProtection to learn more about RSV disease and how to help keep your child healthy this RSV season! #LittleLungs #RSVAwarenessMonth
Let’s chat! Had you head of RSV before? Has your child suffered from RSV? Share your story with us below!