Friday, November 15, 2013

It's getting cold out there... good time for #RSVAwareness #MC


I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for MedImmune. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

It's getting cold...more people are congregating together indoors- which means there will be more germs will be around, too. One of those germs is RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). RSV causes mild cold-like symptoms and nearly 100% of children get RSV by age 2, but RSVcan be very dangerous for some children. 

RSV is very contagious and can be spread easily through touching, sneezing and coughing. Additionally, the virus can live on the skin and surfaces for hours. While premature babies are especially at risk, any young child can have problems with RSV. When two of our older boys were 18 months and 4 months old they both had RSV. They were lucky to not have to be hospitalized, but they did require nebulizer treatments every 4 hours around the clock so that they continued breathe the way they needed to in order to keep their oxygen levels up. That is a very scary situation for any parent!

 Preterm infants are born with undeveloped lungs and immature immune systems that put them at heightened risk for developing severe RSV disease, often requiring hospitalization. RSV infection is more likely to root in premature lungs where developing airways are narrowed and especially fragile. Preterm babies carry fewer virus-fighting antibodies—a precious gift from mom that all infants need while their own immune systems mature after birth.

 There is no treatment for RSV disease once it’s contracted, so prevention is critical. To help minimize the spread of RSV disease, all parents should:

· Wash their hands and ask others to do the same
· Keep toys, clothes, blanket and sheets clean
· Avoid crowds and other young children during RSV season
· Never let anyone smoke around your baby

· Steer clear of people who are sick or who have recently been sick


World Prematurity Day is November 17th: Learn the Risks Associated with Preterm Birth
Speak to your child’s pediatrician to determine if your baby is at high risk for RSV disease, and if so, what additional steps may be recommended. For more information about RSV and prevention, visit www.RSVprotection.com


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