Protect Your Little Ones from RSV

Protect Your Little Ones from RSV

Protecting Your Little Ones: Understanding RSV and the Role of Beyfortus

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious virus that can cause severe respiratory illness in infants, young children, and even older adults. While many cases of RSV may appear mild, similar to a cold, the virus can lead to serious complications, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia. These complications can be especially dangerous for high-risk infants. Fortunately, the Pediatric Center offers Beyfortus, a groundbreaking solution designed to help protect against RSV.

Key Takeaways

  • RSV is a contagious respiratory virus that poses a significant risk to infants and young children.
  • Symptoms range from mild cold-like signs to severe respiratory distress.
  • Prevention methods include good hygiene, limiting exposure, and using medical advances like Beyfortus™.
  • Beyfortus is a long-acting monoclonal antibody that provides immediate and extended protection against RSV during an infant’s first RSV season.

Understanding RSV: Symptoms to Watch For

As RSV spreads easily through respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, and close contact, it’s important to recognize the symptoms early. Symptoms typically appear 4-6 days after exposure and may include:

  • Mild symptoms: Runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, and reduced appetite.
  • Severe symptoms: Wheezing, rapid or labored breathing, and bluish skin due to a lack of oxygen.

Infants often show subtle signs such as irritability, fatigue, or feeding difficulties. If your child exhibits severe symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

How to Prevent RSV

While RSV is common, you can reduce the risk of infection with simple but effective steps:

  1. Practice good hygiene: Encourage frequent handwashing for at least 20 seconds.
  2. Avoid close contact: Keep infants away from sick individuals, especially during RSV season.
  3. Disinfect surfaces: Regularly clean high-touch areas like toys, doorknobs, and tables.
  4. Breastfeed if possible: Breastfeeding strengthens your baby’s immune system with vital antibodies.

How Beyfortus Can Help Protect Against RSV

Beyfortus (nirsevimab) is a long-acting monoclonal antibody specifically designed to prevent RSV. Unlike vaccines, Beyfortus provides immediate immunity by delivering antibodies directly into the body.

Key Benefits of Beyfortus:

  • Comprehensive protection for infants during their first RSV season, including premature or high-risk infants.
  • Convenient single-dose administration, offering months of coverage.
  • Clinically proven to reduce RSV-related hospitalizations significantly.

Frequently Asked Quesetions about Beyfortus

 

Who is eligible to receive Beyfortus?

Beyfortus is designed for:

  • Newborns and infants entering their first RSV season, regardless of gestational age or risk factors.
  • Some older infants and children with underlying conditions that increase their risk of severe RSV.

The Pediatric Center can assess your child’s eligibility.

Is Beyfortus a vaccine?

No, Beyfortus is not a vaccine. It delivers ready-made antibodies to provide immediate protection, rather than stimulating the immune system to produce its own.

What are the side effects of Beyfortus?

Beyfortus is well-tolerated, but potential side effects include:

  • Mild reactions at the injection site, such as redness or swelling.
  • Rarely, allergic reactions, which are monitored by healthcare providers during administration.

Contact your Pediatrician if you notice any unusual symptoms.

How long does Beyfortus provide protection?

Beyfortus offers long-lasting protection, covering several months and the duration of the typical RSV season.

When should my baby receive Beyfortus?

Beyfortus should ideally be administered before RSV season starts, which usually occurs between late fall and early spring.

Is Beyfortus covered by insurance?

Many insurance plans cover Beyfortus for eligible infants. The Pediatric Center can assist with navigating coverage and answering questions about affordability.

Why Choose the Pediatric Center for Beyfortus?

At the Pediatric Center, we prioritize your child’s health and safety by staying at the forefront of medical advancements like Beyfortus. Our experienced team ensures that every child receives personalized care tailored to their unique needs.

If you’re ready to protect your child this RSV season or have additional questions about Beyfortus, contact the Pediatric Center today. Together, we’ll give your little one the best defense against RSV!

RSV Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention!

RSV Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention!

RSV (or  (or respiratory syncytial virus) is one of the many viruses that cause respiratory illness―illnesses of the nose, throat and lungs. Typically, RSV causes a cold which may or may not be followed by a a lower respiratory tract infection (bronchiolitis) or pneumonia. Symptoms usually last about 5-7 days. Almost all children get RSV at least once before they are 2 years old. For most healthy children, RSV is like a cold. But, some children get very sick with RSV.

Cold Symptoms Vs. Bronchiolitis

Cold symptoms may include fevers, wet or dry coughs, congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and fussiness or poor feeding in babies. Bronchiolitis can include the cold symptoms plus fast breathing, flaring of the nostrils, head bobbing with breathing, rhythmic grunting during breathing, belly breathing, tugging between the ribs and/or lower neck, and wheezing. Watch your child’s rib cage as they inhale. If you see it “caving in” and forming an upside-down “V” shape under the neck, they are working too hard to breathe.

    Infants at Greater Risk of RSV

    • 12 weeks old or younger at the start of RSV season
    • Premature or low birth weight infants (especially those born before 29 weeks gestation)
    • Chronic lung disease of prematurity
    • Babies with certain types of heart defects
    • Additional risk factos include mother smoking or being around secondhand smoke, history of allergies and eczema, not breasteeding, and being around children in a child care setting.

    At The Pediatric Center

    Call the Pediatric Center right away if your child develops any symptoms of bronchiolitis, symptoms of dehydration, pauses or difficulty breathing, gray or blue color to tongue, lips, or skin, or significantly decreased activity and alertness. Your Pediatric Center provider can diagnose your child by doing a physical exam, nasal swab test, or even a chest x-ray or oxygen saturation test to check for lung congestion in severe cases.

    Treatment

    Treatment for RSV is similar to the treatment you would give your child if they had a bad cold. To make them feel more comfortable:

    • Use nasal saline with gentle suctioning to allow easier breathing and feeding.
    • Run a cool-mist humidifier to help break up mucus and allow easier breathing.
    • Make sure they stay hydrated with fluids and frequent feedings. Try to suction baby’s nose before feeding.
    • Acetaminophen or ibuprofen (if older than 6 months) can be used to help with low-grade fevers. Always avoid aspirin and cough and cold medications in babies and young children.

    Prevention

    RSV is spread just like any other common-cold virus through direct person-to-person contact with saliva, mucus, or nasal discharge. To prevent RSV, limit your child’s exposure to crowds, other children, and anyone who is sick. Disinfect objects and surfaces in your home regularly, and feed your baby breastmilk which has unique antibodies to prevent and fight infections. One of the best things you can do to prevent RSV or any other illness is to WASH YOUR HANDS! Scrub for at least 20 seconds with soap and water! 

    Call The Pediatric Center

    At the Pediatric Center, we want to give you and your child the best information and diagnosis, you can get. If you are noticing any severe cold or bronchiolitis symptoms in your child, don’t hesitate to call your doctor at the Pediatric Center. You can contact us at our Idaho Falls location at (208) 523-3060 or our Rigby location (208) 745-8927, to set up your appointment.

     

    Some content provided by healthychildren.org