This time a year many people get sick! The scariest though is if you have a baby especially a premie and it gets RSV. I am not a expert on the subject but I have experienced RSV with two of my kids. My son was born 4 weeks early and suprisingly did great birth wise but at around 9 months he got RSV and got pretty sick. My 9 year old was also born 4 weeks early and was in NICU for 2 weeks. She didn't have the easiest time. Her lungs didn't have enough surfactant to be able to keep her lungs open so she has a CPAP and feeding tube along with jaundice lights. We were very careful with her to make sure she was not around anyone sick. Luckily she never got the RSV. My youngest however was born 4 weeks early did fine with birth but had milk allergies and was failing to thrive with losing 1 1/2 pounds in the first week. She was very tiny and had jaundice bad. Once we got everyone of those issues dealt with then along came cold season. She started out with allergies then went into brochitis which in turn went to broncholitis after a month of dealing with those she got RSV and had to be put breathing treatments with steriods and strong antibiotics. She had such a hard time breathing. It was the saddest and scariest thing to see this tiny little baby suffering so much. It took her months to recover and still today almost 5 years later her immune system isnt the strongest and she still catches everything 10 times worse than others. RSV is a scary thing and really needs to have more notice, so please read more about RSVProtection.
World Prematurity Day is November 17th:
Learn the Risks Associated with Preterm Birth
Each year worldwide, 13 million babies are born prematurely, and more than one million preemies have died just this year from the serious health challenges they face. The current rate of prematurity in the United States is 12.2 percent—one of the highest rates of preterm birth in the world. Even more alarming is that the rates have risen by 36 percent over the last 25 years. Despite these overwhelming numbers, many parents still aren’t aware of the risks of being born too soon—the leading cause of neonatal death. In fact, a recent survey found that 75 percent of parents don’t know the definition of prematurity (birth at or before 37 weeks gestation), and during prenatal care, most pregnant women don’t ask their healthcare provider about the risk of delivering prematurely and the potential consequences of preterm birth for their child.As preemies often have specialized health needs, it’s important to raise awareness of the increased risks that often come with premature birth. In the time leading up to November 17—World Prematurity Day—we’re hoping to educate all parents about the potential risks associated with preterm births, so parents of preemies are prepared to help protect these vulnerable babies. Since prematurity disrupts a baby’s development in the womb and often stunts the growth of their most critical organs, preemies are susceptible to a variety of illnesses and infections, especially during the winter months. As we head into November, it’s a perfect time to remind parents—especially parents of preemies—about one seasonal virus that poses a threat to infants.
RSV: A Risk to Preemies
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common seasonal virus, contracted by nearly all children by the age of two, and typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms in healthy, full-term babies. Preterm infants, however, are born with undeveloped lungs and immature immune systems that put them at heightened risk for developing severe RSV disease, often requiring hospitalization.Key RSV Facts:
• RSV occurs in epidemics each year, typically from November through March, though it can vary by geography and year-to-year
• RSV disease is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies during their first year of life in the United States, with approximately 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 400 infant deaths each year
• RSV disease is responsible for one of every 13 pediatrician visits and one of every 38 trips to the ER in children under the age of five
Learn the Symptoms of Severe RSV Disease: Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:
• Persistent coughing or wheezing
• Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
• Rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths
• Fever [especially if it is over 100.4°F (rectal) in infants under 3 months of age]
How Can I Help Protect My Baby From RSV?
RSV is very contagious and can be spread easily through touching, sneezing and coughing. Additionally, the virus can live on the skin and surfaces for hours. There is no treatment for RSV disease once it’s contracted, so prevention is critical. To help minimize the spread of RSV disease, all parents should:
• Wash their hands and ask others to do the same
• Keep toys, clothes, blanket and sheets clean
• Avoid crowds and other young children during RSV season
• Never let anyone smoke around your baby
• Steer clear of people who are sick or who have recently been sick
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