Respiratory syncytial virus, symptoms not to be underestimated in children are inappetence, apnea, wheezing. The indication comes from the doctors of the Italian Society of Pediatrics (Sip) who suggest the “Five things to know about the respiratory syncytial virus”, regarding the infection that, in this period in advance of previous years, is causing in Italy the hospitalization of children with pneumonia and acute bronchiolitis.
In particular, with respect to ‘what parents must do’ and ‘when it is necessary to go to hospital’, pediatricians remember that “bronchiolitis is a dynamic disease and therefore it is important that parents are informed about the possible evolution and worsening of the clinical picture. and close monitoring with the treating pediatrician is implemented. The warning signs that should not be underestimated and that must lead to a hospital evaluation are mainly: the reduction in nutrition which is the first sign that the child is getting worse and is often the main cause hospitalization; the presence of episodes of apnea (moments of interruption of breathing); the appearance of breathing difficulties: the child breathes faster and is out of breath, there are retractions in the chest and jugule (i.e. the dimple between the neck and sternum).
It is also worth knowing that “the symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus are similar to those of other viral respiratory infections and are represented by rhinorrhea, dry and irritating cough and fever (in most cases not elevated). Later they can appear the signs of a reduction in nutrition and then difficulty in breathing, usually in the 3rd-5th day of illness “.
In addition, the “respiratory syncytial virus or Vrs, is a very common respiratory pathogen, capable of infecting the respiratory system of patients of any age, but mainly affects children in the first years of life. It usually causes colds (upper respiratory tract infection ), but especially in infants in the first months of life, VRS infection can reach the lower airways and lungs causing acute bronchiolitis (inflammation of the lower airways) or pneumonia.
The fourth thing to know is that “VRS spreads easily from person to person. The infection is contracted through the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and eyes. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, it releases particles that contain the virus into the air. . These particles can be inhaled, or they can settle on the mouth, nose or eyes. In particular, the infection is contracted by touching infected nasal or buccal secretions with the hands and then rubbing the eyes or nose. survive for many hours on hard surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, toys and cribs.
Finally, the diffusion. It is the “most frequent cause of respiratory tract infection in children under the age of 2 and is the first cause of hospitalization under one year of age. In Italy the epidemic period runs between October and March, with a peak in January February”.
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