My premature daughter who is now two mths was born with r.s.v...?

Question

why everywhere i turn or read it makes me feel like i have to keep her away from "the world". Is this an over exageration, or is this virus as serious as it seems? can a doctor or sum1 knowledgable in this field help me?

Answer 1

RSV is not treatable, it is a virus, there is no cure. There are things that can be done to treat the symptoms of it- particularly wheezing and respiratory distress, but you can't make it go away. Preemies can end up on ventilators and even die from a severe case of RSV. That's why we really try to keep preemies "away from the world" because their immune systems suck (for lack of a better term) and they are highly susceptible to viruses that you and I would be able to fight off. For you and I (who probably get RSV every winter) it is a mild upper respiratory infection, for a fragile infant it can be a very severe respiratory illness. It is strange to get RSV in the summer- it's peak months are November through May. Your daughter may be a candidate to receive Synagis during RSV season which is a very expensive medication- similar to a vaccine- for infants in high risk categories. I don't think that she needs to live in a bubble, especially in the summer, but you do need to be cautious with her exposures and encourage good hygiene practices for everyone around her.

Answer 2

RSV is very serious and can cause irreparable harm to your child. However, it is 100 percent treatable when caught in time. My son developed RSV and had to be hospitalized for 4 days, oxygen tent and all. He is 7 now and was just recently labeled as a child genius. He is outgoing and loves people. I do not think that you have to put her in a bubble, but until the virus clears it would be a good idea to keep her away from anything that can comprise her respiratory system any further. It is always better to be extreme for the sake of her healing process. There are things that can hinder her recovery and even cause a much more serious series of infections that may make it harder for the doctors to control. Good luck sweetie, and remember "this to shall pass."

Answer 3

Well, I know it must be frustrating...but given the fact that your baby was born prematurely in its own means her immune system isn't as strong as a full term baby, but the r.s.v weakens it even more...I'd just try to keep her away from other sick people...which can be really hard to do in public since you don't know who has what! They do have a shot for kids that are at higher risk for r.s.v., but she may not be old enough yet...she is still really young, try to keep her as sheltered as you can until she gets a little older and stronger. She will probably always be at a higher risk for these things, but she will hopefully build a stronger immune system as she gets older, especially if she's breast feeding. R.S.V is very serious...best of luck to you!

Answer 4

It can be serious, especially to a premie, or an infant with heart or lung issues in general. In an older child or an adult, RSV just shows like a chest cold, but in a premie, it can make them seriously ill. (My friend's son had a collapsed lung from it.) I personally know of three cases of RSV - including my friend's son; another one of them essientially almost died in my office and the doctor was able to bring him back, the other had to be airlifted (via Medivac helicopter) to the nearest Pediatric ICU. All three kids, because they were treated early, and precautions were taken are all fine now - they're all over the age of 2 years old, one of whom is starting kindergarten this fall.

By taking precautions, I'm not saying you need to keep your daughter in a bubble. That'll just make both of you out of your minds. But, during peak RSV season (which varies, depending on where you live - here in the Northeast it's mainly November to April, but in areas of Florida, it's all year round - you can find outbreak data thru the CDC at - www.cdc.gov) you want to be extra dilligent - meaning, flu shots for everyone who can have them, staying away from obviously sick people, extra handwashing, and avoiding large crowds. (Get a sitter when you go Holiday shopping if you can.) There's also a vaccine for premies (they have to be less than 34 weeks' gestation to qualify) to prevent RSV - it's called Synagis. I used to be the coordinator for it for my office, and it is an expensive shot ($1500 a dose) but for anyone with a premie, and since yours was born with RSV, it's really worth having her pediatrician or neonatalogist order it - they may need to jump thru some hoops to get it, but I always use the justification of spending $10,000 over a winter is MUCH more cost effective than spending twice that a day for a baby to be hospitalized.

Good luck! =)