by Linda Castillo
Do you know about RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)? I had never heard of it before learning about it from Latina Bloggers Connect. But once I found out that it affects about two-thirds of all infants by age one and almost 100% of babies by age two- it got my attention real fast. Children are at risk if they spend time in a daycare or school setting. Just imagine all the children sharing toys and supplies thereby making them the most susceptible to RSV.
It doesn’t matter if your child goes to daycare five or 50 hours a week, the risks of spending time in a daycare or pre-school setting are the same. My little one is 23 months and just started to attend a daycare center twice a week. For that reason, I thought it was time to learn about RSV and share the information along to other moms. Whether your child goes to daycare or not, learning about RSV is important.
What is RSV?
RSV is a highly contagious common, seasonal virus and typically runs from November through March. Some of the most severe RSV symptoms include coughing that doesn’t stop, fast and difficulty breathing, spread-out nostrils and caved-in chest when breathing, bluish color around the mouth or fingernails and a fever. If your child has any of these symptoms immediately seek medical care.
Prevention of RSV
Since there is no treatment for RSV, it is so important to prevent the spread of virus. RSV lives on everyday surfaces such as doorknobs, countertops, toys, and bedding for several hours. It can be spread by touching, hugging and kissing. As parents, we can do the following to help prevent the spread of this infectious virus:
- Always wash your hands and child’s hands
- Keep toys, clothes, blankets, and sheets clean
- Avoid crowds and other sick children during RSV season
- If your child is showing sick symptoms keep them home
To learn more about RSV visit www.RSVProtection.com and follow #RSVProtection.
Note: This post is in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and is compensated.
Linda Castillo is the Founder and Executive Editor of http://www.modernlatina.com/. She writes on topics that empower and inspire Latinas including art, motherhood, green living, culture, travel, and issues transforming the Latino community. Linda has earned a B.S. in Business and a M.S. in Mass Communications from San Jose State University.