'This tragic event is a stark reminder that respiratory viruses can be deadly, especially in young children and infants.'
. Avoiding exposure, keeping things clean by disinfecting surfaces, refraining from sharing glasses, and washing toys regularly are also listed as best practices. The Mayo Clinic also encourages parents not to smoke, as"babies who are exposed to tobacco smoke have a higher risk of getting RSV and potentially more-severe symptoms." If you do smoke, it's advised that you do it away from your baby — never in the house or car.
There's also a protective medication available, called palivizumab . It's given in the form of a shot and designed for children under 2 who are at high risk of serious complications from RSV. Pfizer is also working on a new vaccine to protect against RSV. The single dose would be given to pregnant people in their late second or third trimester and protect newborns from the virus throughout their first six months of life.
Until we have such preventative measures, it's important to be very attentive to signs and symptoms of RSV. If an infant has symptoms of a cold that aren't improving, take them to the doctor immediately.Most RSV infections go away on their own in less than two weeks, the CDC says. There's no current treatment plan to fight the infection, but for adults, you can relieve symptoms by drinking fluids to prevent dehydration and taking over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers.
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