spread out syncytial virus Respiratory syncytial virus among children worldwide recently, and respiratory syncytial virus can be deceiving, as it begins to look like any other cold in childhood, and for most children who contract it, the respiratory syncytial virus remains mild, but some children may develop severe cases It requires hospitalization, according to the “Health” website.
In this report, we learn how to differentiate between respiratory syncytial virus and the common cold.
The 2022-2023 RSV season appears to have started very early, with cases appearing in August and September, said Dr. Jessica Erickson, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Penn State Children’s Health, USA.
Early signs of respiratory syncytial virus
There are signs and symptoms to look out for, but initially RSV presents with signs of a cold, flu, or coronavirus: runny nose, congestion, cough, fever, and diarrhea, decreased appetite, and headache can also appear.
All of which means, Erickson said, that “there is no way to tell at home or even in your doctor’s office if a child has syncytial virus, influenza, MERS, or some other virus, without testing.”
But because their respiratory passages are much smaller than those of older children or adults, very young children and infants are more likely to develop a condition that develops into something serious.
When that happens, patients may need oxygen or even a ventilator to help them breathe.
“Older adults can sometimes have serious problems from RSV as well, especially the very elderly, cancer patients and adults with compromised immune systems but mostly, young children are more affected,” Erickson added.
Again, most cases will feel like a common cold and then get better over time.
In this case, it probably doesn’t make sense to test the child for RSV (nasal swab test), as there is no good treatment other than rest, proper nutrition, and hydration.
Signs of severe respiratory syncytial virus to look out for
Certain symptoms may mean that a child’s respiratory syncytial virus is getting worse.
Erickson said: “When you start to see evidence that it’s something more than a cough when a child is coughing so hard they’re vomiting, or when they’re coughing so hard they can’t eat.
For a young baby who is breast-fed or bottle-fed, if their nose is so stuffy that they can’t it’s time to call the doctor, because the baby may need “medical attention.”
