I just found out my four month old son has R.S.V. What do I do?

Question

My son's test came back + for R.S.V. I'm so sared for him. He's been put on a breathing treatment. The doctor says watch on him close because he can go into respiratory distress. What should I do to help him and what does R.S.V. really do to him. ( I'm also a litte mad because I've been breastfeeding this whole time.)

Answer 1

RSV infections cause symptoms like those of a common cold: a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, wheezing and coughing, low-grade fever, and earache. Babies may have additional symptoms that include listlessness, lack of appetite, irritability (fretfulness), disrupted sleep, and a decreased interest in things going on around them. Rarely, some babies may also have apnea, a condition in which breathing stops for about 15 to 20 seconds.

Symptoms gradually resolve sometime between 10 and 14 days. Your age, general health, and severity of the infection affect recovery time.


If your baby is otherwise healthy, usually symptoms gradually resolve on their own within a week or two. For mild RSV infection, measures to help relieve symptoms usually are all that is needed. Some babies with RSV infection may require hospitalization.

Answer 2

My 5 month old has R.S.V. too but she is mostly recovered now. It started a week ago, what i did was this if she had fever i gave her motrin ( the recommended dosage for her age you'll have to get this from your doc. but you probably already have it) several days into it the fever went away. My doctor also said i could give her one of those infants triaminic strips that melts on the tongue. That helped with the conjestion but mostly i just used those saline drops in the nose and suctioned out the snot with the bulb syrynge. I think the important thing is if they can breath okay i was told to go to the emergency room if she had rapid breathing or difficulty getting a breath. Also keep her hydrated. My baby could drink her bottle but not as much as she had been so i just had to feed her more often. The saline drops help to thin the mucus so you can get it out. I also found if you keep the fever down that's good too because when the fever comes back then the mucus increases. It will be rough for a few days but you should see improvement soon.

Answer 3

Sorry your baby is sick. Yes, look it up on web sites, ask your doctor, and follow his/her instructions. do not understand your comment about being mad because you have been breastfeeding...unless you mean you are dissapointed because the baby was not protected from RSV by the breastfeeding. Breastfeding does not provide protection against the RSV virus. Feb. is a very common month for babies to catch this virus. Many babies are hospitalized with RSV, but not all. Follow your doctors ianstructions and if your baby seems worse in any way, call him again. See website below.

Answer 4

All I can tell you hunny is that my 1st child had R.S.V When she was 5 months old,and she was on breething treatments,she was very ill,and I pumped my milk and fed it to her,because the doctor would'nt let me feed her.Dont be mad,and dont think that you havent succeeded because you did when you gave birth to him,I hope every thing comes out for the best.God bless.

Answer 5

R.S.V is really hard to get rid of. It depends on how many people you have around your baby breathing on him touching him and kissing him or playing with his toys that he puts in his mouth. You need to lysol your whole house wash all your sheets pillow cases pillows blankets comforter, curtins everything and anything. You and everyone around your family needs to wash there hands every time they come around your baby. Anyone with a cold can get your baby more sick. It's probaly best to keep it minimum of who goes by your baby like maybe just mommy and daddy. Be prepared you can get sick also I have 2 girls and when one of them got it we all got it and it stuck around for over 3 weeks. There is no cure for it and that sucks. Just love your baby and comfort your baby and keep everything clean cause even dust can make it worst. Good luck to you I pray that your baby gets better.

Answer 6

Breastfeeding has NOTHING to do with RSV. Its an infection of the respitory system. Run a humidifier if you can and give him plenty of fluids beyond breastmilk. Breathing treatments help open up the lungs odds are your child will be fine. My daughter had RSV several times as an infant she was high risk do to being so premature. However her O2 levels were low so she had to be admitted into the hospital

Answer 7

Because your breast feeding your giving your child every benefit especially with RSV .My little girl had this and we went through a terrible time so I can understand how you must be feeling.Make sure everyone in contact washes their hands as this can easily be passed back again from person to person .

Answer 8

Heres's the CDC website about it. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/rsvfeat.htm

Just keep an eye on him. Its rather common and highly treatable. He should be fine in time. I wouldn't worry about the breast feeding although it may actually be a factor if you had a bronchial infection yourself. Here's another site:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/rsv.html
Hope this helps.

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"Fact becomes history, history becomes legend, legend becomes myth and eventually it all comes back to bite us in the butt."

The Syko Ward
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Answer 9

Get a second opinion! Babies that young should be admitted to the hospital for observation. My daughter was older, 2, but she still was hospitalized.

Answer 10

RSV is a potentially deadly virus and asking complete strangers for medical advice in such a case is not a wise idea. I know you are scared, but please look up the info on reputable websites and follow all of your doctor's instructions.