I typed this post before Thanksgiving, but never got around to posting it . . . so, here it is . . .RSV . . . what it is . . . how to prevent it . . . what it means for us . . . there are pictures at the end . . . so, start reading!
Peter is on board with my plan to share a bit about RSV with you as he contracted his first cold right before Thanksgiving. Also, he started his regimen of incredibly painful shots and wants you to be aware of all he is doing to avoid RSV! So, here we go . . .
1.) What is RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age in the United States. Each year, 75,000 to 125,000 children in this age group are hospitalized due to RSV infection. Almost all children are infected with the virus by their second birthday, but only a small percentage develop severe disease.
2.)Who is at risk for severe illness? Premature infants, children less than 2 years of age with congenital heart or chronic lung disease, and children with compromised (weakened) immune systems due to a medical condition or medical treatment are at highest risk for severe disease. Adults with compromised immune systems and those 65 and older are also at increased risk of severe disease. Peter was premature, he is less than 2 years old, he has chronic lung disease and, as a preemie he has a weak immune system.
3.)How is RSV transmitted? People infected with RSV are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days. However, some infants and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious for as long as 4 weeks. RSV is often introduced into the home by school-age children who are infected with RSV and have a mild upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold. RSV can be rapidly transmitted to other members of the family, often infecting about 50% of other household members. RSV can be spread when droplets containing the virus are sneezed or coughed into the air by an infected person. Such droplets can linger briefly in the air, and if someone inhales the particles or the particles contact their nose, mouth or eye, they can become infected. Infection can also result from direct and indirect contact with nasal or oral secretions from infected persons. Direct contact with the virus can occur for example, by kissing the face of a child with RSV.
4.) Here's the important one . . . How can we prevent an RSV infection? Frequent handwashing and wiping of hard surfaces with soap and water or disinfectant may help stop infection and spread of RSV. Also, persons with RSV illness should not share cups or eating utensils with others.Ideally, persons with cold-like symptoms should not interact with high-risk children. If this is not possible, these persons should cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and then wash their hands before providing any care. They should also refrain from kissing high-risk children while they have cold-like symptoms. When possible, limiting the time that high-risk children spend in child-care centers or other potentially contagious settings may help prevent infection and spread of the virus during the RSV season.A drug called palivizumab (say "pah-lih-VIH-zu-mahb") is available to prevent severe RSV illness in certain infants and children who are at high risk. The drug can help prevent development of serious RSV disease, but it cannot help cure or treat children already suffering from serious RSV disease and it cannot prevent infection with RSV. Peter received his first palivizumab injection on November 15th . . . he will have one every month through May . . . the shot is very painful and due to his size, starting in December, he will get one in each leg. This shot is also very expensive (upwards of $3,000 per month if you were paying out of pocket) and very hard to qualify for . . . basically, if a baby qualifies they are in the highest risk group category for developing severe symptoms from an rsv infection.
The important thing to remember is that you don't know if you're sick or not . . . you may not show symptoms of RSV for 4-6 days after exposure . . . what does that mean? Here's an example:
Sunday - you are exposed to RSV at church (we aren't even allowed to take Peter, doctor's orders)
Monday - feeling fine
Tuesday - still feeling fine
Wednesday - still feeling great and thinking, I haven't met Peter yet . . . better stop by . . .
Thursday - still feeling good, drop by Brad & Kristin's to meet Peter . . . they cautiously let you "see" him after you have thoroughly washed your hands and confirmed that you haven't been to any public places that day (since germs could have landed on your clothes) . . . you don't get to hold him, but you are in the same room . . . you sneeze (you're sure it is just allergies)
Friday - still feeling ok, but have a little tickle and your throat and feeling a little sluggish
Saturday - you have a full blown cold
Later that week - Peter gets sick . . . he may just be miserable for a week or so . . . but, he may develop severe symptoms and end up back in the hospital on breathing assistance.
This is why we are so cautious about letting anyone (family, included) interact with Peter. We know he is cute and sweet and oh so cuddly . . . but, we already spent 52 days of his life in the hospital, we don't want to relive that experience for even one day.
So, as we approach the holidays, please know that we are going to do our best to keep Peter protected from germs. That may mean you don't get to see Peter . . . we're sorry if that's the case (because he is just the most wonderful little guy), but please know that we are trying to do what's best for him . . .
Oh, one more thing before I close . . . to be clear, we understand that kids need to be exposed to germs to further develop their immune systems. However, you learned in my previous post that most babies are born with an already functioning immune system. Peter was not. Most doctors agree that by the time a preemie is 2, their immune system will be up and functioning . . . so, until then, expect us to be overprotective of our little man . . .
1.) What is RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age in the United States. Each year, 75,000 to 125,000 children in this age group are hospitalized due to RSV infection. Almost all children are infected with the virus by their second birthday, but only a small percentage develop severe disease.
2.)Who is at risk for severe illness? Premature infants, children less than 2 years of age with congenital heart or chronic lung disease, and children with compromised (weakened) immune systems due to a medical condition or medical treatment are at highest risk for severe disease. Adults with compromised immune systems and those 65 and older are also at increased risk of severe disease. Peter was premature, he is less than 2 years old, he has chronic lung disease and, as a preemie he has a weak immune system.
3.)How is RSV transmitted? People infected with RSV are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days. However, some infants and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious for as long as 4 weeks. RSV is often introduced into the home by school-age children who are infected with RSV and have a mild upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold. RSV can be rapidly transmitted to other members of the family, often infecting about 50% of other household members. RSV can be spread when droplets containing the virus are sneezed or coughed into the air by an infected person. Such droplets can linger briefly in the air, and if someone inhales the particles or the particles contact their nose, mouth or eye, they can become infected. Infection can also result from direct and indirect contact with nasal or oral secretions from infected persons. Direct contact with the virus can occur for example, by kissing the face of a child with RSV.
4.) Here's the important one . . . How can we prevent an RSV infection? Frequent handwashing and wiping of hard surfaces with soap and water or disinfectant may help stop infection and spread of RSV. Also, persons with RSV illness should not share cups or eating utensils with others.Ideally, persons with cold-like symptoms should not interact with high-risk children. If this is not possible, these persons should cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and then wash their hands before providing any care. They should also refrain from kissing high-risk children while they have cold-like symptoms. When possible, limiting the time that high-risk children spend in child-care centers or other potentially contagious settings may help prevent infection and spread of the virus during the RSV season.A drug called palivizumab (say "pah-lih-VIH-zu-mahb") is available to prevent severe RSV illness in certain infants and children who are at high risk. The drug can help prevent development of serious RSV disease, but it cannot help cure or treat children already suffering from serious RSV disease and it cannot prevent infection with RSV. Peter received his first palivizumab injection on November 15th . . . he will have one every month through May . . . the shot is very painful and due to his size, starting in December, he will get one in each leg. This shot is also very expensive (upwards of $3,000 per month if you were paying out of pocket) and very hard to qualify for . . . basically, if a baby qualifies they are in the highest risk group category for developing severe symptoms from an rsv infection.
The important thing to remember is that you don't know if you're sick or not . . . you may not show symptoms of RSV for 4-6 days after exposure . . . what does that mean? Here's an example:
Sunday - you are exposed to RSV at church (we aren't even allowed to take Peter, doctor's orders)
Monday - feeling fine
Tuesday - still feeling fine
Wednesday - still feeling great and thinking, I haven't met Peter yet . . . better stop by . . .
Thursday - still feeling good, drop by Brad & Kristin's to meet Peter . . . they cautiously let you "see" him after you have thoroughly washed your hands and confirmed that you haven't been to any public places that day (since germs could have landed on your clothes) . . . you don't get to hold him, but you are in the same room . . . you sneeze (you're sure it is just allergies)
Friday - still feeling ok, but have a little tickle and your throat and feeling a little sluggish
Saturday - you have a full blown cold
Later that week - Peter gets sick . . . he may just be miserable for a week or so . . . but, he may develop severe symptoms and end up back in the hospital on breathing assistance.
This is why we are so cautious about letting anyone (family, included) interact with Peter. We know he is cute and sweet and oh so cuddly . . . but, we already spent 52 days of his life in the hospital, we don't want to relive that experience for even one day.
So, as we approach the holidays, please know that we are going to do our best to keep Peter protected from germs. That may mean you don't get to see Peter . . . we're sorry if that's the case (because he is just the most wonderful little guy), but please know that we are trying to do what's best for him . . .
Oh, one more thing before I close . . . to be clear, we understand that kids need to be exposed to germs to further develop their immune systems. However, you learned in my previous post that most babies are born with an already functioning immune system. Peter was not. Most doctors agree that by the time a preemie is 2, their immune system will be up and functioning . . . so, until then, expect us to be overprotective of our little man . . .
Mommy, Daddy and I delivered our cookie trays today . . . so, I had to get a little festive
Did Mommy mention that I am eating peas as well as sweet potatoes?
Caught in the act . . . not sure what the act is, but I look guilty!
