WITI-TV, RACINE -
Pediatricians are seeing a lot of sick babies and a lot of worried parents. A disease called "RSV" is spreading like wild fire.
Dr. Margaret Hennessy checks out a case of Croup, which can be caused by RSV. She says, "RSV, which is Respitory Syncytial Virus, definitely impacts young infants the most." It's a common illness and it's highly contagious.
Joani Farley's twins both had it recently. She says, "When one of them gets sick, the other one is definitely goign to get sick...So we had to have them on the nebulizer, breathing treatments every four hours."
The tell-tale signs are coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, and sometimes fever. The biggest symptom is a runny nose, and babies can't blow their nose like adults. "They get lots of congestion, lots of drainage.", says Dr. Hennessy.
Because RSV is a virus it can't be treated with antibiotics, it has to run its course. Dr. Hennessy said, "And it's hard, as a mom I know. I know that it's so hard to watch that, but I think the fact that a kid can generate a good cough, is very important."
Dr. Hennessy says parents can try saline drops and run a humidifier, but cough medicine isn't recommended for babies. Preventative measures like hand washing are the best line of defense.
RSV can lead to more serious problems in premature babies or kids with diseases that affect the lungs, but most recover on their own in a few days.
If you thin your child is sick, don't spread the disease by sending them to daycare. Aside from RSV Dr. Hennessy is also bracing for another burst of the Swine Flu. There's been concern about a third wave of H1N1, and she wants to remind everyone that there is plenty of vaccine out there.
Dr. Margaret Hennessy checks out a case of Croup, which can be caused by RSV. She says, "RSV, which is Respitory Syncytial Virus, definitely impacts young infants the most." It's a common illness and it's highly contagious.
Joani Farley's twins both had it recently. She says, "When one of them gets sick, the other one is definitely goign to get sick...So we had to have them on the nebulizer, breathing treatments every four hours."
The tell-tale signs are coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, and sometimes fever. The biggest symptom is a runny nose, and babies can't blow their nose like adults. "They get lots of congestion, lots of drainage.", says Dr. Hennessy.
Because RSV is a virus it can't be treated with antibiotics, it has to run its course. Dr. Hennessy said, "And it's hard, as a mom I know. I know that it's so hard to watch that, but I think the fact that a kid can generate a good cough, is very important."
Dr. Hennessy says parents can try saline drops and run a humidifier, but cough medicine isn't recommended for babies. Preventative measures like hand washing are the best line of defense.
RSV can lead to more serious problems in premature babies or kids with diseases that affect the lungs, but most recover on their own in a few days.
If you thin your child is sick, don't spread the disease by sending them to daycare. Aside from RSV Dr. Hennessy is also bracing for another burst of the Swine Flu. There's been concern about a third wave of H1N1, and she wants to remind everyone that there is plenty of vaccine out there.
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
