The respiratory syncytial virus ?RSV? It has generated concern in the medical community due to the fact that a significant increase in infections in minors has been detected.
Flu-like symptoms ranging from coughing and sneezing to fever have appeared in children, causing an increase in hospitalizations in recent days.
Mina Hakim, a pediatric specialist at the South Central Family Health Center in Los Angeles, noted that there is a worrying increase in respiratory illnesses in children.
During a press conference organized by Ethnic Media Services In which experts met to discuss the increase in VRS in minors in the United States, the specialist explained that "precautions are being taken to be ready for the worst," since it is not known what will happen in the coming months.
And it is that, 1 in 50 deaths of children under 5 years of age worldwide is due to RSV, according to a study in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
"This is getting to a point where it's overloading our ERs and our ICUs and our hospitals," Hakim said.
He also explained that the virus spreads in a similar way to the flu, that is, through droplets, through hands and even on surfaces, since the virus can live up to 6 hours.
Hakim also reported that "children exposed to tobacco in the early stages are more likely to be in the hospital due to RSV, as are babies who have not been breastfed."
For her part, Priya Soni, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, explained the ways in which RSV can be distinguished from influenza and pointed out that the latter commonly occurs during the winter.
"Influenza, flu, COVID-19 and RSV have similar symptoms and can present with cough, runny nose, fever and sore throat," he noted, however RSV also presents with body aches, headache, high fever and fatigue.
In the same way, he pointed out the importance of being attentive to the symptoms of children under 6 months of age, since they can stop breathing or eating. "It can be devastating in that age group."
In this sense, Manisha Newaskar, clinical associate professor of pediatrics and pulmonary medicine at Stanford Medicine Children's Health, said that RSV can cause bronchitis or inflammation of the respiratory ducts and stressed that although the disease affects all age groups , children under 6 months are the most affected.
Newaskar warned that basic hygiene habits such as covering your mouth when coughing or washing your hands frequently can prevent the disease and recommended not taking minors to school in case of symptoms.
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