If you’ve been on social media lately, you may have seen the meme “Don’t
Kiss My Baby” popping up on your sites. Babies are cute and loving on them is hard
to resist, but there is good reason for you and others to avoid physical contact with
infants. RSV or respiratory syncytial virus is a common virus that presents as the a
simple cold in most people. However, in children, especially those under 2 years of
age, it can cause severe illness. The CDC reports that 2 out of every 100 children
who are infected with RSV will have to be hospitalized and many will require
temporary help with breathing.
If you are the parent of a young child, early symptoms of RSV include runny
nose – usually with significant amounts of mucous, decreased appetite, and cough
that may be accompanied by wheezing. A few tips for everyone to follow to prevent
the spread of RSV especially in young infants include limiting contact with strangers
during cold and flu season as well as family members who are sick. Always wash
your hands for at least 20 seconds and if water is not available it is okay to use an
alcohol based hand sanitizer. Avoid putting your hands near your face, but do cover
your coughs and sneezes, preferably with a tissue (wash your hands after). Clean
and disinfect high traffic areas on a regular basis. And, finally, if you are sick stay
home and avoid public areas.
