The number of cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at the Children’s Hospital of Thailand has been increasing. The hospital is warning parents of infants and small children to be vigilant about respiratory illnesses.
The so-called Children’s Hospital at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health has documented an increase in RSV cases among its very young kids, with one in three patients entering the hospital having RSV and the number of new cases increasing annually.
Infectious agents of the respiratory system, RSV causes symptoms similar to the common cold and influenza. While most adults and older children recover from respiratory syncytial virus infections, RSV infections in infants younger than a year old and the elderly are more dangerous and even life-threatening.
Children’s Hospital pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Chalermthai Aksilp warns that mucus that young children are unable to cough out correctly might cause serious consequences.
He remarked that the same safety precautions taken to avert the spread of COVID-19 are also useful for warding off RSV. Clean hands and a clean mask are essential.
Nasal swabs, much as those used in Covid testing, can detect RSV.
RSV has a short incubation time (three to six days), but it can remain active in a host for up to eight days. Those who have been diagnosed with RSV are encouraged to rest at home, skip class, take medicine, and consult a doctor if their symptoms persist.
