The number of RS virus infections is increasing
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Last year we had to deal with a high number of corona infections before the turn of the year, this year the RS virus is striking again. The number of infections has increased rapidly in the past period. Babies and young children in particular are affected by the cold virus.
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Contents
What is the RS virus?
The RS virus is a respiratory infection caused by the respiratory syncytial virus. It is the most common cold virus in young children. Almost every child gets this in his first year of life. Babies can become seriously ill from inflammation of the small airways or pneumonia. Normally, the virus spreads mainly in winter. In adults, it usually stays with a cold. This is how you recognize the RS virus in children.
Epidemic
Since the corona pandemic, the resurgences of the RS virus are no longer seasonal. Because we stayed indoors en masse during the lockdown, the number of infections was less high. Now that all measures have been lifted, the virus is catching up. Every week, nineteen laboratories in the Netherlands report to RIVM how many infections have been counted. Currently, there are almost 400 reports per week, almost twice as many as during the peaks in recent years.
It is currently quite busy on the pediatric ICs in Dutch hospitals, although according to the seven academic hospitals there is no reason for national measures yet. “At the moment, everything must be done to ensure that children who are ill can be allocated a place. For the time being, this is working,” says Károly Illy, of the Dutch Pediatric Association RTL News.
Also read: Kimberly’s baby got the RS virus: ‘I was terrified’
How dangerous is the virus?
For most children, the RS virus is a common cold and therefore not dangerous. Usually the complaints disappear after a few days. However, the virus can also become more serious. Babies and toddlers can become very short of breath due to the RS virus. They can get pneumonia, dehydrate and end up in the hospital. There they receive extra oxygen, for example. The virus can also be dangerous for vulnerable elderly people. Deaths from the RS virus are almost non-existent in the Netherlands.
For the time being, there is no vaccine to prevent infection with the RS virus, but we are working on it.
How do you prevent an infection?
It is difficult to prevent contamination. You can do this:
- Use a tissue paper
- Use a handkerchief only once
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
- Keep newborn babies away from coughing and sneezing people
- Breastfeeding helps to protect newborn babies from RS virus infection. Breast milk contains antibodies from the mother, which protect the baby against infection
- Clean toys that children put in the mouth every day
Source: RIVM, RTL News
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