BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com
A kiss on the forehead during a snuggle with an infant is not unusual.
But when someone has symptoms of the common cold come in close contact with an infant, they could be spreading more than just affection.
Dr. Stefanie Schroeder, a pediatrician at Carle, said “someone who thinks they just have a cold could give RSV to an infant, who could then have more serious complications.”
RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms: cough, runny nose and sneezing.
Schroeder said that most people come in contact with RSV prior to the age of two, but for those infants whose immune systems are still weak, the virus could cause respiratory issues or a secondary infection.
“So sometimes for those younger kids it can present a little more severely,” Schroeder said.
The virus, which generally lasts 7-10 days, can cause a runny nose, a decrease in appetite, and a cough, which may progress to wheezing.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), infants may not have signs of a cold, but rather only present with irritability, decreased activity or appetite and sleep apnea or pauses while breathing.
“It’s usually as bad as it’s going to be about day four to five, So we want to watch those kids really closely,” Schroeder said.
Parents who believe their child needs to be seen because their symptoms are more severe than the common cold, should visit their pediatrician. In office, the physician can run a swab test to see if the child has RSV, influenza and do other tests for secondary infections.
“Anytime your immune system is suppressed, you run the risk of getting sick with something else,” Schroeder said.
According to the CDC, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.
When needed, a child diagnosed with RSV can be hospitalized to provide the extra breathing support their body needs.
To prevent the spread of RSV, Schroeder suggests many of the same practices that are used to curb the spread of other viruses: wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, disinfect surfaces, such as countertops and door handles, and avoid contact with people, particularly infants, when you have symptoms of the common cold.
