You can protect your children from a common respiratory virus

With cough and cold season still in swing, parents with infants and small children should be on the lookout for a common virus that may lead to potentially serious complications- respiratory syncytial virus. Nearly half of all children are infected during their first year of life, and almost all children get an RSV infection by the age of 2.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, RSV is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among children under two years old.

RSV is a virus that causes acute respiratory illness in patients of all ages.

While symptoms usually resemble the common cold and are fought off in a matter of days, coldlike symptoms accompanied by wheezing or difficulty breathing may be indicative of RSV.

Among those at greatest risk from RSV are babies born prematurely, as well as children with lung or heart disease. Infants that attend child care or day care and those with school-age siblings also have an increased risk for RSV infections.

RSV is highly contagious. It can be spread when a person coughs or sneezes, and it can live on surfaces such as toys, countertops or doorknobs, and on hands and clothing.

It's important for RSV to be diagnosed and distinguished from other illnesses with similar symptoms so that proper medical attention can be administered to minimize infection and risk to the patient. Healthcare professionals recognize the benefits of utilizing rapid RSV tests to aid clinical diagnosis and management of patient care.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate Inc.