Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for MedImmune. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
It’s that time of the year again! RSV season.What is RSV? It’s shorthand for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Why do you need to know this? Because by the age of 2 nearly 100% of children have contracted RSV. Yes, 100%.
Yet parents often don’t know what it is. I was one of those parents. I was a first time mom when I had Mason in late January of 2010. I didn’t have a care in the world those first few days, I was so in love with my little man. Then I noticed that it looked like he was struggling to breathe. That he was wheezing. By a week old he was diagnosed with RSV. It was the middle of winter, a very bad winter and I was scared, they talked about possibly needing to hospitalize him. He was put on an antibiotic and I squirted breastmilk up his nose daily to help clear up his congestion. Between the antibiotic and the breastmilk he was better much quicker than his doctors expecting. He never had to stay in the hospital and had no long lasting effects. The initial fear, however, still sticks with me. The thought of my little baby going to the hospital was so hard for me especially so soon after giving birth.
But Mason wasn’t premature, in fact he was born at 41 Weeks and 1 Day, a strapping 8lbs 11oz. Why does prematurity matter? It can make a huge difference especially when it comes to RSV. Preterm babies are twice as likely to be admitted to the hospital for RSV than full term infants. It’s the leading cause of hospitalization in children under the age of one and responsible for about 200 infant deaths a year.
What Can You Do?
Know the RSV Facts.
If your child is at risk take steps towards prevention, wash your hands frequently, keep them away from crowds and keep their items clean. Germ prevention is key! It doesn’t hurt to boost your immunity as well!
And remember, RSV isn’t something that just happens during the winter, it happens all year long, so make sure you stay diligent all year long!
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