RSV Making Infants and Older Adults Very Sick

 

 

RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) is a fairly common cold-like virus that affects the throat, nose, and lungs. 

As with other respiratory diseases, it's common in fall and winter - usually peaking in December and January.

The symptoms from RSV can be mild in healthy adults, but can be very dangerous in infants and older adults. 

It can also cause children with asthma to become very sick. 

When my son was 5 (yes 5), he was admitted to the hospital for an entire week with RSV. The hospital staff was shocked since they usually see infants with RSV. 

 But my son has severe asthma and had many hospitalizations for pneumonia and exposure to wild fire smoke. 

So I wasn't surprised he was hospitalized, he is always hit harder with respiratory diseases than my other kids with asthma. 

Infants with RSV

RSV in babies can cause pneumonia (a lung infection) and bronchiolitis (swelling in the small airways). 

This can lead to a hospital stay for your baby. 

Since RSV is a virus, antibiotics will not help. 

Babies will need supplemental oxygen and IV fluids if they are dehydrated (because they can't nurse or take a bottle due to a stuffy nose or irritated throat)

Most infants may only need a few days in the hospital, but as mentioned above, those with severe asthma may need a longer hospitalization. 

Older Adults with RSV  

Every year, 100,000 - 150,000 adults over age 60 are hospitalized with RSV. 

Those at highest risk are over at 75, have heart or lung problems, other medical conditions, a weakened immune system, or live in a nursing facility. 

As with infants, older adults with RSV can develop pneumonia and need to be hospitalized. 

RSV can also make asthma, COPD, and heart failure worse.

For the RSV vaccine, the CDC recommends: 

  • CDC recommends everyone ages 75 and older get an RSV vaccine.
  • CDC recommends adults ages 60–74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease get an RSV vaccine.
  • The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine. If you have received an RSV vaccine already (including last year), you should not get another RSV vaccine at this time.
  • You can get one at any time, but the best time to get vaccinated is in late summer and early fall.

 Since I have seen how sick my son was when he had RSV, and since I have severe asthma, I am going to talk to my doctor about getting the RSV vaccine. 

I had an catastrophic accident that caused severe injuries, which led to a two month stay in a skilled nursing facility. I was the youngest there, but quickly made friends with the other 80 year old patients.

There was an outbreak of COVID in the facility, but I had received my COVID and influenza vaccine before my accident - and I wore a mask to physical therapy or any other time I was around other patients. 

I was able to avoid getting COVID while I was there. I was very worried because the last time I had COVID, I needed supplemental oxygen around the clock for 6 months. 

With a history of ER visits and hospitalizations for asthma for my children and myself, I am wary of respiratory infections. 

And if there is another vaccine that can protect me and my cranky lungs, I will get it. 

 Has anyone else had the RSV vaccine yet?

 

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