Pediatrics: Lillian Beard, M.D.

My son had RSV this past winter. What are the odds of him having lasting effects from the virus, like being prone to more colds and coughs and developing asthma?

By Lillian Beard, M.D.

Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV) is a highly contagious respiratory infection. We now anticipate the appearance of this virus yearly in many regions in the U.S., generally between November and April. Infants and young children are the most vulnerable to the more severe effects of this infection.

RSV rapidly penetrates even the smallest branches of the respiratory system and results in inflammation and blockages of the airways leading to the lungs. It initially presents like a severe cold. If the infection is not managed and controlled early, the persistence and spread of the virus can result in permanent lung damage.

We do not know all of the factors for the cause of asthma. We do understand that a positive family history for this condition and respiratory allergies play significant roles. There is ample clinical evidence that frequent viral upper airway inflammatory episodes during infancy may also be important markers to identify youngsters who are at greater risk to develop asthma and other respiratory conditions.

If your son's respiratory airways were severely compromised during his illness, without receiving the recommended prescribed RSV (Synagis vaccine) protection next fall, he may be at a higher risk for reinfection with this virus.

Consult with your son's pediatrician to find out whether he's a good candidate for Synagis vaccine and be certain that he receives all of the recommended immunizations for his age.

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