Sat Nov 07 2009
By DARLENE PRINCE
A nasty virus that is most prevalent from late fall through early spring can waylay children with a cough, runny nose and even a fever.
The virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), is an extremely contagious illness spread by coughing or sneezing that affects mostly children. It infects a child's lung and breathing passages. According to the Centers for Disease Control, most children will be infected with RSV by their second birthday. And, a child can get the disease more than once.
RSV can become severe, especially in children 6 months old or younger and in older people. In a serious case, RSV can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis.
There is no vaccine for RSV, which usually runs its course in about a week.
Dr. Karen Reiter, of the ProMedica Physician Group at Defiance Regional Medical Center, said, "I can usually tell by the type of cough the child has whether it is a cold or RSV. It is really hard for the parents to tell the difference. The nurses tell the parents to watch the chest when their child breathes or if the nostrils are flaring. They are working a little harder to breathe.
"RSV symptoms can include a low-grade fever; a clear, very runny nose, and the cough," she said."The parents don't hear the child's wheezing, but we do."
Reiter said treatment for RSV includes cleaning the nose out with a bulb syringe to make breathing easier.
"Children with RSV cannot be given antibiotics as they do not affect a virus," she said. "They can be given xopenex albuterol (to help breathing) and sometimes, steroids.
Parents are warned to consult a physician before giving a child any medicine.
Older children can be given medicine with acetaminophen, but never give a child aspirin as it can cause Reye syndrome, a life-threatening illness.
"Breast-feeding has no benefit in preventing a child from getting RSV. Since it is so highly contagious, the best prevention is to wash hands frequently," she advised.
Reiter also advised parents not to take a child with RSV near a senior citizen as older people are also vulnerable to the disease. She recalled treating an older man who became quite ill after catching RSV from his grandson.
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