The RS virus attacks with doubled force. “Something like that has never happened before”

Proven content

Last year, there was hardly any mention of any disease other than COVID-19. It has changed. Since the beginning of autumn, doctors have been observing a marked increase in flu infections, as well as with the RS virus among children. There are so many infections that some children’s hospitals are running out of places for young patients. Why has the RS virus attacked with redoubled force right now? What are the symptoms of the disease? Is it possible to prevent a child from becoming infected? The questions in the interview with Medonet were answered by prof. dr hab. n. med. Andrzej Emeryk, Head of the Department of Lung Diseases and Pediatric Rheumatology at the University Children’s Hospital in Lublin.

1. – There has not been such a large number of children requiring hospitalization due to the severe course of RSV infection – warns the doctor
2. Where does such a spike in infections come from? According to prof. Retirement is due to the fact that last year, due to lockdown, children did not have such intense contacts, and viruses could not spread
3. Common symptoms of RS virus infection are cough, runny nose, fever, and difficulty breathing
4. The expert says whether the virus can also be dangerous for adults
5. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

Agnieszka Mazur-Puchała, Medonet: The media are getting information that many children are now infected with the RS virus. In fact, there are currently a record number of these infections?

Prof. dr hab. n. med. Andrzej Emeryk, Head of the Department of Lung Diseases and Pediatric Rheumatology at the University Children’s Hospital in Lublin: The RS virus is a typical respiratory virus that affects the upper and lower respiratory tract, mainly in children. For many years, infections with the RS virus have appeared in children in the fourth and first quarter of each year, mainly in the group of children aged 3 months – 3 years.

This year is completely special because There have not been such a large number of children requiring hospitalization due to the severe course of RSV infection. Moreover, the first cases requiring hospitalization appeared in August, which was not the case in the past.

Unfortunately, we do not know how many children actually get sick, because in the vast majority of cases the diagnosis is made not at the primary health care center, but at the HED or, more often, only in the hospital ward.

Do children need hospitalization?

Of course, not all children require hospitalization, but only those with severe forms of infections in the form of bronchiolitis or pneumonia with respiratory failure.

Last year, nothing was said about the RSV. In fact, there are more of these infections this year than in 2020? Why?

2020 was unique in terms of infections with various respiratory viruses in children. There were definitely fewer of them than in the average year. For example, among children reporting to the HED or hospitalized at the University Children’s Hospital in Lublin, we had only a few cases of influenza and not a single infection with the RS virus. It was probably the effect of the lockdown and significantly limited contact between nursery and preschool children.

The rest of the interview under the video:

What are the symptoms of RS virus infection? What should worry us?

RS virus (resiratory syncytial virus – RSV) is a typical respiratory virus, although it is uncommon. The more common respiratory tract infections are rhinoviruses and influenza viruses.

Typical symptoms of RS virus infection are: runny nose, quite high fever, cough initially mainly dry, then wet, breathing difficulties, rapid breathing, wheezing. The appearance of the last three symptoms suggests a severe course of the disease and is an absolute indication for reporting to the Emergency Department, as is the decrease in hemoglobin saturation below 92%.

1. This is a must have in your first aid kit! You can buy an electronic wireless thermometer at Medonet Market. Also, try thermometer stickers for monitoring fever in children

What is the treatment for an infection?

Currently, there is still no effective causal treatment, i.e. drugs against the RS virus. Mild cases of the disease can be treated outpatiently by administering anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs.

Hospitalized children support suctioning of secretions from the nasal passages, oxygen therapy in the event of hypoxemia, hydration in case of insufficient oral fluid intake by the child (preferred by a gastric tube, in the case of intravenous intolerance – intravenously). Previous studies have not clearly demonstrated a beneficial therapeutic effect when using systemic or inhaled steroids, antibiotics, beta2-agonists, adrenaline and concentrated NaCl solutions for inhalation. However, in a hospital setting, these drugs are sometimes used.

Can parents somehow protect their children? Is it a disease that can be avoided?

The RS virus is highly contagious. Hence, the infection spreads very easily in large communities of young children, that is nurseries, kindergartens and, unfortunately, sometimes in a hospital ward in the absence of isolation of the sick. Premature infants, artificially fed infants, children with chronic lung disease, congenital heart defects and congenital and acquired immune deficiencies are a special group at high risk of a severe course of RS infection.

The only known prophylactic treatment is the administration of p-RSV monoclonal antibodies (palivizumab) to children at increased risk of infection. Currently, these are children born in the 35th week of pregnancy or earlier, not older than 6 months of age at the beginning of the RSV infection season, children up to 2 years of age treated for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the last 6 months, and children up to 2 years of age. years of age with significant haemodynamically congenital heart defect. This preparation reduces the frequency of hospitalizations due to RSV infection, but does not affect the severity of the course of RSV infection.

Should adults also be concerned about RSV, or is there no risk in our case?

Much less than children. The risk group is the elderly, immunocompromised people, asthma, COPD, after cancer treatment or after transplantation. It is in them that the RS virus can cause severe pneumonia. And these are infections mainly from sick young children. Therefore, it is important when contacting sick children to follow the same rules as for COVID-19 (face mask, washing hands).

Do you see an increase in the incidence of other respiratory diseases? There are more infections than last year?

For now, we are at the beginning of the season of colds, flu and other infectious respiratory diseases in children. So I cannot confirm the thesis that we have more of some respiratory infections and less of others. Perhaps the COVID-19 pandemic and the related sanitary restrictions and measures will lead to a change in the etiology and frequency of respiratory tract infections, especially in children.

This may interest you:

1. WHO warns: this is the greatest threat to humanity, worse than COVID-19
2. The flu took it by surprise. Record number of cases in Poland
3. Polio in Ukraine. The child has leg paralysis. Parents did not want vaccination

The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.