Unusual Respiratory Syncytial Virus Spread in Kids Worries Parents, Doctors

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, usually develops and spreads among children under two years old during the winter season, but some parents and doctors are growing concerned over the rise in hospitalization for RSV this summer.

In June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an advisory about the unusual spread of RSV in the Southern states. Dr. Claudette Poole, an infectious disease expert from Alabama, confirmed that more infants are currently in the hospital because of this cold-like illness.

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Younger children dealing with RSV are at risk of developing severe symptoms that may progress to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. She told NBC News that the number of cases in hospitals in the south is often seen during colder months of December or January.

Dr. Kate Dutkiewicz of the Beacon Children's Hospital in Indiana said she had infant patients with RSV who needed oxygen to help them breathe. She said she has "never seen anything like this" in her career as a pediatric doctor.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus and COVID-19

RSV spreads the same way as COVID-19 -- through respiratory droplets that spew out when an infected child coughs or sneezes. Babies and toddlers with RSV experience difficulty in breathing and may exhibit heaving chests. The CDC said that this is the most common cause of inflammation of the small airways in children's lungs.

The symptoms of RSV include runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, and coughing. The child may also develop a fever because of the inflammation in the lungs and could be irritable and lethargic. Despite the similarities in symptoms, RSV is worst in babies than COVID-19. However, in most cases, RSV patients feel better a week or two after going through the worst symptoms with plenty of fluids and without specific treatment or vaccine since there is none for this disease.

Parents are advised to monitor their children's breathing and to keep them hydrated. If the baby is breathing too fast or showing signs of distress, they should be checked by a doctor immediately to prevent the development of an underlying condition that will weaken the immune system further.

Families are also told to hold off kissing babies and toddlers when there is a virus going around. As with the COVID-19, good hygiene is one way of preventing the spread of RSV.

Not Surprising for Other Doctors

But some doctors are not surprised by the rise in RSV cases. Dr. Per H. Gesteland of the University of Utah Health and Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital said that Australia also had a bout of RSV during their summer season when they relaxed their COVID-19 restrictions and loosed mask-wearing and social distancing.

"[If] you have a large part of your population that's susceptible to RSV, the virus is going to have a chance to take off and spread," Dr. Gesteland said.

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The experts said that since it is spreading at an unusual season, the public should be on the lookout, especially if they have vulnerable family members. Aside from the kids, RSV is also common among the senior population.