There are many fears that come along as a parent. Through this article, some tips will be shared for the parents to reduce the risk of babies from getting sick.
Common sicknesses that affect children
As babies have lower immunity than adults, they are more prone to get affected by common symptoms¹ such as:
- Asthma
- Cold
- Coughing
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Measles
- Mumps
…and more, which are definitely a concern for parents. One of the most frequent causes of childhood illness is respiratory syncytial virus. Most of the children will get the virus by 2 years of age².
All you need to know about RSV
Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects the respiratory tract and usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms⁸.
However, RSV can be serious and can lead to severe illness among premature and very young infants (≤6 months), and babies with chronic heart or lung disease are at increased risk for severe disease. The potential for dangerous complications is a concern for all these populations.⁸
The symptoms may be life-threatening when it affects premature babies so hospitalisation may be required. Notify your doctor immediately if your baby is showing any of these signs upon RSV infection³ :
- Symptoms of bronchiolitis (Sneezing, runny or blocked nose, coughing)
- Dehydration - fewer than 1 wet diaper every 8 hours
- Pauses or difficulty in breathing
- Grey or blue colour on tongue, skin, and lips
- Significantly decreased alertness
Additionally, the symptoms of RSV may be similar to those of the COVID-19, however the COVID-19 carries other noticeable symptoms in a baby such as fever and a runny nose².
As RSV can lower a person’s immune system, it is much easier to get infected by the COVID-19. Hence, for babies who are infected with RSV, it is best for the parents to quarantine the child once they are better².
RSV is highly contagious as it spreads easily through the air on infected respiratory droplets².
Stay far away if someone infected with RSV sneezed or coughed near you or your child. The virus can also be passed through direct contact to the eyes, nose and mouth².
The virus may self-resolve in most adults. However, it can last up to four weeks in infants and those with a weaker immune system, even if there are no symptoms shown².
Help your child feel better from RSV
Babies with RSV infections may experience intense discomfort and even pain, and some parents may not understand their situation, even when they are clearly showing irritability.
As parents, you can help your baby feel better even when they are sick by using the methods below³:
1. Nasal saline. Allow your babies to breathe better with nasal saline and gentle suctioning.
2. Humidifier. A humidifier with a cool mist can help to break up mucus and allow for easier breathing.
3. Fluids and frequent feedings. Keeping your baby hydrated while they are sick is crucial. Babies and infants may not eat much or will eat slower when sick, but parents must ensure that their babies are well hydrated and fed for rapid healing.
Of course, there are also ways that parents can help to protect and strengthen their baby’s immune system, such as ³:
- Receiving immunisation.
- Limiting child’s exposure.
- Breastfeeding.
- In a germ-free environment. Besides, parents can reduce the risk of a child being hospitalised due to RSV, click here to know more.
Protect your loved one from RSV, Act Now!
With today’s advanced medical technology, medical experts and professionals have come up with many ways to ensure a strong and healthy population, and even babies and infants can now get better protection!
Prophylaxis treatment can help parents in strengthening their baby’s immune system. The prophylaxis treatment is getting a monthly monoclonal antibody (mAb), a man-made protein that acts like a real antibody in our immune system and fights the virus⁴,5.
It is used to prevent RSV infection in infants and babies who are at a high risk of severe RSV infection, which is very likely to be hospitalised⁶. It includes premature babies, low birth weight infants, especially those born before 29 weeks of gestation³.
A clinical trial shows that the hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and hospital length of stay of <6-month-old infants having symptoms of RSV has been significantly reduced.⁷
In a nutshell, prophylaxis treatment is a treatment that parents can delve into and research further to ensure the health and well-being of their premature infants.
Protect your vulnerable loved ones by first ensuring that you have received sensible advice from your paediatrician or neonatologist on RSV prevention, starting today.
After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
This educational article is brought to you by AstraZeneca.
AstraZeneca Sdn Bhd (69730-X)
The Bousteador, Level 12, No. 10 Jalan PJU 7/6, Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel: +60 3 7624 3888 | Fax: +60 3 7624 3999
MY_RSV_MY-11398_23/05/2023
Source(s):
¹ Childhood illnesses. Nidirect Government Services. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/childhood-illnesses# Accessed 10th April 2023
² Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353098 Accessed 10th April 2023
³ RSV: When It's More Than Just a Cold. healthychildern.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/RSV-When-Its-More-Than-Just-a-Cold.aspx Accessed 10th April 2023
⁴ RSV Prevention. Center of Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/prevention.html Accessed 10th April 2023
⁵ Monoclonal Antibodies and Their Side Effects. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/immunotherapy/monoclonal-antibodies.html Accessed 10th April 2023
⁶ Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention. The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. https://meridian.allenpress.com/jppt/article/14/2/75/197612/Respiratory-Syncytial-Virus-Diagnosis-Treatment Accessed 10th April 2023
⁷ Palivizumab for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920777/ Accessed 10th April 2023
⁸ Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). National Foundation of Infectious Disease. https://www.nfid.org/infectious-diseases/rsv/ Accessed 10th April 2023