This post was sponsored by AstraZeneca as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
October is is National RSV Awareness Month. If you’re asking yourself what RSV is, then I am SO glad that you stumbled upon this post. RSV (short for Respiratory syncytial virus) is a very dangerous virus that affects the lungs and breathing passages. While anyone can get RSV it’s most dangerous in infants under the age of one. That’s why it’s so important that we all help spread the facts of RSV and help protect these precious babies.
National RSV Awareness Month takes place every October. This is an important time where we can educate parents about the signs and symptoms of RSV disease as well as prevention measures you can take. RSV is a common, seasonal virus that typically occurs between November and March in the United States and is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies in their first year of life.
Most babies will have contacted RSV by the age of 2 and many times all the symptoms they will have are similar to those found with the common cold. However, there are times when RSV can be severe and even cause death. Most susceptible to severe RSV disease including babies born before 35 weeks and babies with chronic illnesses.
Symptoms of RSV
Potential signs of severe RSV disease that parents should not ignore include:
- Persistent coughing or wheezing
- Fast or troubled breathing
- Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
- Fever (especially if it is over 100.4° in infants under 3 months of age [rectal])
I first found out about RSV in nursing school. As I began my nursing career in the neonatal and pediatric field I saw first hand the effects that RSV can have on babies. It’s a nightmare and one of the scariest things that a new parent can go through. I would never want anyone to go through that so please do your part to help protect your precious baby from RSV. You can do this by washing your hands frequently, not taking your baby into crowded places like the mall and if you have school age kids, make sure they wash their hands before touching the baby.
Please visit Here to learn more about RSV disease and how to help keep your child healthy this RSV season! It’s so important that we spread the message and help parents become aware of RSV.