This time of year is often called cold and flu season, but one virus that was thought to be seen only in babies and children can also affect adults.
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common airborne virus that causes cold-like symptoms like coughing, sneezing, the sniffles and sometimes fever in not only babies and children, but also adults and the elderly. The illness can be more serious in young babies, especially those in certain high-risk groups.
“RSV can affect everybody from the littler ones and even the elderly, but nobody is exempt, even healthy individuals, athletes and healthy individuals can really get sick, so you really have to seek medical attention if it’s getting worse or running longer fevers for a long periods of time and if you have underlying problems,” Dr. Karen Soriano, pediatrician with Covenant Health, said.
While babies and young children are most commonly affected by RSV, it’s important for everyone to be aware. Luckily, there are a number of preventative measures that can be taken. The most obvious one is frequent hand washing. People should also take into consideration the weather. With a dry climate, humidifiers and air filters are helpful.
Parents can also encourage children to keep their hands and toys out of their mouths. Children should avoid sharing food and their water bottles with others. And, when children get home from school, they should change clothes to ensure that germs aren’t being tracked throughout the home.
Additionally, for those who smoke, Dr. Soriano warns to avoid smoking because “it increases the risk of becoming worrisome illness from RSV because it irritates the airways.”
“From the very beginning of school, the nurses go out and teach all the kids, especially in elementary to wash their hands and sing happy birthday twice while they’re washing their hands with soap and water. That’s the best way,” Paulett Rezneck, LISD Coordinator of Student Health Services, said.
“If they are coughing – sometimes they call it the vampire cough – cough into your arms, something, not your hands because when you cough into your hands, you touch the table or your friends, you’re going to spread those germs right there,” Rezneck said.
If you do notice that you or your children may not be feeling well, one of the best things to do is to first see if there’s any fever.
At LISD, anything over 100.4 degrees is considered a fever, said Rezneck.
While RSV can be more serious for young babies and children, all ages are at risk, which means everyone can all help prevent catching it and spreading it on just by being aware and keeping watch of symptoms.
