Cold and flu season is in full swing this time of year. It seems that once one member of your family is sick, the rest follow in place. You rid your house of one sickness, then another bursts in a few weeks or months later. It seems like a never ending cycle.
For families with school age children and/or children that go to daycare or a similar facility, combating sickness can be tough sometimes. Since the children are often around all different kinds of germs, it’s easy for them to bring them home.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a highly contagious viral disease that infects two thirds of all infants, and almost 100% by age two. They get it the same way as the common cold, through germs on toys, doorknobs and other surfaces.
RSV can come in the form of mild to moderate cold symptoms, but can result in serious respiratory infections in babies. Premature infants are especially at risk because their lungs aren’t fully developed. As a parent, you should watch out for the severe danger signs of RSV that require immediate medical attention such as:
- Coughing or wheezing that does not stop
- Fast or troubled breathing
- Spread-out nostrils and/or a caved-in chest when trying to breathe
- Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
- Fever (especially if it is over 100.4?F in infants under 3 months of age)
Milder cases of RSV will generally just run their course, but it’s important to remember that the virus can still be spread. If you know that your child has RSV, keep them away from other children to prevent the spread of germs.
You can help prevent the risk of RSV by practicing good hygiene habits with your child. Always wash your hands and keep toys, blankets, sheets and clothes clean.
- Teach them to always wash their hands. If they’re too young to do so on their own, ask one of the adults on staff to help them wash their hands and stay germ free.
- Send in a pack {or several} of antibacterial hand wipes.
- Keep clothing, backpacks and other personal property clean.
- Talk to you child’s teach or daycare provider and make sure that the toys are washed and cleaned with disinfectant. If not, encourage your child not to play with them.
I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All opinions are my own and/or my family’s, take it or leave it. Click here to view my whole disclosure policy.
