ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Doctors across the country are becoming increasingly concerned as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) spreads, specifically, among children.
According to the Center for Disease Control, RSV is a respiratory infection seen primarily during the winter months. The CDC also said that RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than one-year-old and accounts for almost 500 child deaths every year.
The virus is similar to COVID-19 and the Flu in ways that you contract the illness. According to doctors, RSV spreads by droplets through the air when someone sneezes or coughs. These droplets then land on surfaces that are later touched.
The Guardian spoke with Dr. Amy Maggard of Adena Pediatrics in Chillicothe regarding the uptick in RSV cases across the country.
Maggard told the Guardian that she had not seen any spikes locally, but the medical practice had been put on alert by the CDC.
The individual will start with cold-like symptoms that usually are treatable at home. In the most severe cases of RSV, hospitalization is needed, especially in younger children, doctors said.
So what should parents be looking for, especially in their children?
According to the CDC, symptoms of RSV infection usually include:
- Runny nose
- Decrease in appetite
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
Doctors say RSV can be mistaken for the Flu as well as COVID-19. An RSV test is the only way to truly determine if the patient is suffering from the virus.
When asked how physicians test for the virus Maggard stated that they use a nasal swab.
“RSV is a serious virus. Though we are not seeing any cases (locally) currently,” Dr. Maggard said, “Parents should still be vigilant in monitoring their children for signs and symptoms.”
Adena Pediatrics encourages parents to continue to apply all of the personal hygiene and sanitization techniques that were learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as proper hand washing and social distancing.
If you would like to learn more about RSV you can visit the CDC website by clicking here.
