#RSVawareness – World Prematurity Day is November 17th #MC

by eDee · November 5, 2013

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for MedImmune. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

World Prematurity Day is coming up soon – November 17th. Do you know anyone who had had preemies? My aunt has and although I was pretty young for the birth of each of her children – I distinctly remember how tiny her second child was in my already tiny hands. Thankfully he survived and medicine 35 years ago was nothing like it is today – but he still survived. If I remember correctly he was around 2 pounds – which is completely amazing.

RSV is particularly difficult for those very small babies whose lungs are not fully developed. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common seasonal virus, contracted by nearly all children by the age of two, and typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms in healthy, full-term babies. Preterm infants, however, are born with undeveloped lungs and immature immune systems that put them at heightened risk for developing severe RSV disease, often requiring hospitalization.

RSV infection is more likely to root in premature lungs where developing airways are narrowed and especially fragile
Preterm babies carry fewer virus-fighting antibodies—a precious gift from mom that all infants need while their own
immune systems mature after birth

Have you heard of RSV? (more information at RSVProtection.com)
RSV is a virus that infects the lungs:

RSV or respiratory syncytial [sin-sish-uhl] virus is a contagious viral disease that may infect a person’s lungs and breathing passages
Most children will catch RSV by the age of 2 years
RSV spreads rapidly among children. While most will recover in 1 to 2 weeks, even after recovery, infants and children can continue to spread the virus for 1 to 3 weeks
RSV is present year-round but typically goes up in the fall, then peaks in the winter and goes down in early spring. But, the exact timing of RSV season varies by location

Most people recover from the disease in a week or two, but in premature infants or those with lung or heart problems, severe RSV disease can lead to serious lung infection and hospitalization.

To my knowledge I do not know if my kids ever suffered from RSV. The reason is my oldest two are my stepsons so they were toddlers when I met them and the next two were adopted older than infant age. However, given what I know now about RSV I have to wonder if it was part of my youngest child’s struggles. She is also adopted but we got her directly from birth. And she had respiratory struggles within weeks and we continued to struggle with her wheezing, choking, coughing, fevers etc… for a very long time. We were constantly at the doctors or the emergency room. I truly wish I knew then what I know now. She is quite healthy now though – phew.

Key RSV Facts:

RSV occurs in epidemics each year, typically from November through March, though it can vary by geography and year-to- year

RSV disease is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies during their first year of life in the United States, with approximately 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 400 infant deaths each year

RSV disease is responsible for one of every 13 pediatrician visits and one of every 38 trips to the ER in children under the age of five

Despite being so common, many parents aren’t aware of RSV; in fact, one-third of mothers have never heard of the virus

Learn the Symptoms of Severe RSV Disease:

Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:

Persistent coughing or wheezing

Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails

Rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths

Fever [especially if it is over 100.4°F (rectal) in infants under 3 months of age]

How Can I Help Protect My Baby From RSV?
RSV is very contagious and can be spread easily through touching, sneezing and coughing. Additionally, the virus can live on the skin and surfaces for hours. There is no treatment for RSV disease once it’s contracted, so prevention is critical. To help minimize the spread of RSV disease, all parents should:

Wash their hands and ask others to do the same
Keep toys, clothes, blanket and sheets clean
Avoid crowds and other young children during RSV season
Never let anyone smoke around your baby

World Prematurity Day is November 17th

Learn the Risks Associated with Preterm Birth

Speak to your child’s pediatrician to determine if your baby is at high risk for RSV disease, and if so, what additional steps may be recommended. For more information about RSV and prevention, visit www.RSVprotection.com.