Both of my older children were born premature, so RSV was one of those things that we were warned about in the hospital. It was something that I was also advised about when my youngest was born, though she was just on the cusp of full term. With RSV season just about here, I wanted to talk about my top tips for keeping babies healthy during RSV season. This applies to babies that were born at full term and who were born premature.
This post was sponsored as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
First, of course, you’ll want to know how to prepare for the cold and flu season. The Little Lungs website is a great place to start. And you can check out some tips here for how to keep babies safe from RSV.
RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, begins in November and continues on until the end of March. The virus itself is highly contagious, highly common, and affects nearly all infants by the age of 2. Though it may be more severe in some infants vs others. Especially if they were born premature.
What are the signs and symptoms of RSV?
Signs and symptoms of RSV are similar to that of a common cold. However, with RSV it can turn into a far more serious infection. My son, for example, contracted RSV that eventually turned into pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
Some of the symptoms of RSV include
- coughing or wheezing that doesn’t stop
- gasping for breath
- unusual lethargy or tiredeness
- bluish color around the lips and fingers
- fever
When is RSV Season?
In most parts of the country, RSV season lasts from November through March.
Preventing infection is the best way to protect preemies and high-risk babies, such as those with congenital heart or lung disease or a compromised immune system, from the potentially dangerous effects of RSV and other respiratory illnesses.
Ways to prevent RSV include:
- Hand washing
- Disenfecting regularly (door handles, toys, surfaces, etc.)
- Sanitizing everything! (no seriously, just about everything you can think of)
There is not a singular treatment for RSV, so learning how to prevent it goes a long way. Talk to your child’s pediatrician and visit Little Lungs for more ideas.
RSV awareness month is in October.
Kori
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