Respiratory Syncytial Virus: CDC Says Older Infants, Toddlers More Likely to Develop Severe Illness Linked to It

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a health advisory after seeing a rise in the occurrence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus, more typically known as RSV, throughout the southern United States.

A NewsNation report specified, according to the CDC advisory, because of the reduced spread of RSV during the winter months of 2020 to 2021, older infants and toddlers might now be at greater risk of RSV-linked illness since they have likely not had usual exposure levels to RSV during the last 15 months.

Doctors throughout Tampa Bay usually said RSV spreads in the winter months, like the common cold. Nonetheless, they have seen a rise in cases in the past few months as temperatures get warmer, which is uncommon.

Chief medical officer Dr. Joseph Perno from the John's Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, said it is the predominant thing they see in the emergency department at present.

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RSV can be dangerous to children, particularly infants.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Symptoms

Dr. Sara Kurby, an ER doctor at AdventHealth in Tampa, shared that they have seen a similar thing. She added, she thinks it began in early April, they began to see more than they usually see of it, and they are still seeing the same in June, which is slightly weird, too.

While symptoms older children and adults are experiencing like sneezing, coughing, fatigue, runny nose, headache, and fever, as described by Mayo Clinic, RSV can be dangerous to children, particularly infants. Older adults, on the other hand, are at risk of severe illness, as well.

Kirby explained those who are a month or two, in particular, but even up to six months are the ones they watch slightly more carefully with RSV as they are not strong enough to combat like older children.

RSV in Infants and Children

An earlier CDC report said that virtually all children contract RSV infection by the time they turn two years old. More often than not, RSV is likely to lead to mild, cold-like disease, although it can also result in severe illnesses such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

One to two out of every 100 kids aged below six months with RSV infection may need to be admitted to the hospital.

Specifically, those confined at the hospital may necessitate oxygen, intubation, or mechanical ventilation. Most patients improve with this type of supportive care and are discharged from confinement in a couple of days.

Treatment

There is no particular cure for this virus. Both medical experts are saying symptoms, on average last approximately one or two weeks.

Because of this, they have encouraged the public to continue hygiene practices like frequent washing of hands due to the virus that can spread quite rapidly.

The health agency said the respiratory syncytial virus is primarily transmitted through droplets from a sneeze or cough and direct contact with a contaminated space.

Additionally, on average, RSV results in 58,000 hospitalizations and between 100 and 500 deaths among children below five years old in the United States.

For those aged 65 years and above, that figure is significantly higher, with 177,000 hospitalizations that have 14,000 deaths.

A similar report is shown on WDIV's YouTube video below:

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