Respiratory syncytial virus is the most common cause of serious respiratory infections in infants and young children. It is a virus that causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract. Many babies and most of the older children get only a slight cold from respiratory syncytial virus. These infections are especially dangerous in babies who were born prematurely, have lung or heart problems or certain other chronic illnesses. This virus occurs during the late winter and early spring in temperate climates, and during the rainy season in the tropics.

Causes

Respiratory syncytial virus is spread through close contact with an infected person. It has been shown that if a person with respiratory syncytial virus infection sneezes, the virus can be carried to others within a radius of 1.8 m.

Respiratory syncytial virus is most often spread by sharing food or drink with an infected person or by getting droplets containing the virus on your hands and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. The infection can spread rapidly through schools and child-care centers. Infants often get it when older kids carry the virus home from school and pass it to them.

Each year up to 125,000 infants are hospitalized due to severe respiratory syncytial virus disease, and about 1 to 2% of these infants die. Infants born prematurely, those with chronic lung disease, those who are immunocompromised, and those with certain forms of heart disease are at increased risk for severe RSV disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms in young children mostly included lethargy, irritability, and poor feeding. Older children and adults develop upper respiratory tract illness and occasional bronchitis. Common symptoms are :-

Cough.

Stuffy or runny nose.

Mild sore throat.

Earache.

Listlessness and sleepiness.

Fretfulness (irritability) and not sleeping well.

Poor feeding.

Treatment

If your baby was born prematurely (too early) or has lung or heart disease, talk to your pediatrician about ways to help prevent respiratory syncytial virus. Your baby may benefit from medication that helps prevent RSV infection in high-risk children. This medication is called palivizumab. It is given in monthly injections during the fall and winter months.

Synagis, a monoclonal antibody, is the good treatment indicated for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus in pediatric patients at high risk of respiratory syncytial virus disease.

In cases of severe infection, hospitalization may be necessary to provide intravenous (IV) fluids and humidified oxygen. Hospitalized infants and children may also be hooked up to mechanical ventilation (a breathing machine) to ease breathing.