Lifestyle News : Monsoon doesn’t just bring rain: Be alert in time, save babies from ‘RSV Pneumonia’!

Author:
Dr. Amita Kaul, Head of Department, Associate Chief and Senior Consultant – Paediatrics, Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Services, Surya Mother and Child Super Specialty Hospital, Pune.

And Dr. Prashant Udavant, Head of Department, Neonatal and Senior Consultant, Department of Paediatrics, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune.

With the onset of monsoon, there is a surge of respiratory infections in children. Many parents think that coughs and colds are common these days. But, few parents realize that a simple runny nose in a young baby can actually be the beginning of a ‘Respiratory Syncytial Virus’ (RSV) infection. It is a leading cause of pneumonia in newborns worldwide.

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In older children and adults, RSV is similar to the common cold. But, in young babies, especially those under one year of age, it can quickly turn into pneumonia or bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs). This causes the baby to have trouble breathing and often requires hospitalization, oxygen, or an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. RSV accounts for a large proportion of childhood pneumonia and hospitalizations worldwide each year. Most importantly, severe RSV infection in childhood can increase the risk of wheezing and asthma in children later on.

“The biggest challenge with RSV pneumonia and bronchiolitis is that it starts as a simple cold. By the time the parents notice that the baby is breathing fast or drinking less milk, the infection has reached the lungs. So early recognition of the symptoms and proper treatment can prevent further serious complications,” said Dr. Amita Kaul, Head of Department, Associate Chief and Senior Consultant – Paediatrics, Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Services, Surya Mother and Child Super Specialty Hospital, Pune.

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“As pediatricians, our goal is not only to treat serious RSV infection, but also to prevent it from occurring. Along with simple measures such as hand washing and keeping babies away from sick people, parents should discuss RSV immunization with their pediatricians. It is always best to prevent the disease before it is time to hospitalize the baby,” advises Dr. Provided by Prashant Udavant Head, Neonatal and Senior Consultant, Department of Paediatrics, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune.

RSV Challenge: Early Symptoms
The most worrying thing about this disease is that it does not seem serious at first. Initially, the baby may experience:
Runny or stuffy nose (blockage)
Mild cough or sneezing
having a mild fever
Less intake of baby milk or food
However, these symptoms can worsen rapidly in a very short period of time. If the baby is suffering from the following, parents should go to the doctor immediately:
If the baby is breathing fast or labored
Chest Retractions (Chest Retractions)
Baby drinking too much milk or decreasing the amount of urine
Baby sleeping more than usual or being lethargic
Bluish lips or shortness of breath
Young babies’ health can deteriorate rapidly, so it is very important to recognize the symptoms of the disease in time.

Prevention is the best solution!
Fortunately, it is possible to protect babies from RSV pneumonia, and prevention should be the first line of defense. The risk of infection can be greatly reduced by simple measures such as frequent hand washing, avoiding exposure of the baby to persons with colds and coughs, keeping the air fresh in the house, keeping the surfaces that the baby frequently touches clean and avoiding going to crowded places during RSV days. Householders with cold-cough symptoms should avoid touching the baby and wash their hands before touching the baby. Also, breastfeeding should be encouraged as breast milk boosts the baby’s natural immunity.
However, hygiene measures alone cannot completely prevent this risk.
Today, advances in medical science have made ‘RSV immunization’ (prophylactic option) available to protect the baby before it becomes seriously ill. North America, Europe, the Middle East, and many other countries around the world have incorporated RSV prevention strategies into their health systems to reduce morbidity and hospitalizations among children. These preventative options are now available in India as well. So during the growing season of this infection, parents should definitely discuss with their pediatrician to understand if their baby is eligible for this protection.

An important message for parents
As parents we vaccinate our children to protect them from various diseases, because prevention is always better than cure. We need to have a similar conscious approach to RSV. Do not wait until the baby has trouble breathing. If the baby is breathing fast, not drinking milk, very lethargic or his lips turn blue with a simple cold-cough, don’t ignore it at all. This monsoon, protect your child not only from the rain, but also from this serious childhood respiratory disease!