Red Network Moment News, February 26 (Correspondent Xie Na) Before and after the Spring Festival, due to the cold temperature, the temperature difference between day and night changes greatly, and many children have irregular diets and rests during the Spring Festival, and many people are in contact with people, resulting in a significant increase in pediatric patients, and respiratory syncytial virus infection has also ushered in a wave of peaks.
Little Clay (pseudonym) from Moyu County, Xinjiang, is 2 years old this year, during the Chinese New Year, repeated high fever accompanied by severe cough, shortness of breath, poor spirit, Clay's parents were in a hurry, and hurriedly took Clay to the Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital for general pediatrics, Clay's parents do not speak Mandarin, language barrier, after the doctor's patient inquiry with body movements, only to learn about Clay's detailed medical history, combined with the results of the examination to consider that there is respiratory syncytial virus infection pneumonia, after the careful care of pediatric medical staff** , little Clay's condition gradually improved, and little Clay and his mother showed a long-lost smile.
What is respiratory syncytial virus?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important viral pathogen causing acute lower respiratory tract infections in children under 5 years of age worldwide. It is highly contagious and is mainly transmitted through coughing and droplets and close contact (e.g., touching and kissing an infected person), with direct contact being the most common route of transmission, so hand washing and contact protection are important measures to prevent transmission.
What are the symptoms of RSV infection?
The incubation period for RSV infection is generally 2 to 8 days. Most children infected with RSV have early symptoms similar to the common cold, with nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and low-grade fever.
With the development of the disease, a small number of cases can develop into lower respiratory tract infection, with severe cough, sputum production, wheezing, and even shortness of breath, irritability, loss of appetite, etc., and severe children can be complicated by respiratory failure and heart failure. Especially for children with serious heart disease, lung disease, immune dysfunction and other underlying diseases, RSV infection is very dangerous, and parents should not take it lightly.
How can RSV be prevented?
Wash your hands frequently: RSV can spread through direct contact, and it is important to wash your hands frequently, whether at home or outdoors.
Maintain indoor air circulation: Proper ventilation of windows or the use of air purifiers to maintain indoor air circulation and air purification every day can reduce the spread of the virus in the air.
Wear a mask: Remember to wear a mask in schools, hospitals, cinemas and crowded places that are not ventilated, and if it is a small baby who cannot adapt to a mask, parents should pay attention to keeping a safe distance of 1 meter from other people.
Avoid crowded places: During RSV season or endemic areas, try not to bring high-risk infants to crowded areas.
Enhance immunity: ensure that children have sufficient water and nutrient intake, rest more, and carry out appropriate outdoor activities when the weather is good to enhance physical fitness.
Since the main population of RSV infection is infants and young children, it is necessary to pay attention to protection in the RSV epidemic season, and if the child has symptoms such as wheezing and suffocation, it is necessary to seek medical attention in time, and timely pathogen diagnosis can provide a good basis for diagnosis and treatment.