With the change of the season comes the fun of the holidays, more time with family and friends, and, unfortunately, RSV. While many of us, particularly parents, are familiar with RSV, what is it exactly? Can RSV be prevented? How do most kids get RSV?
Do any of these questions sound familiar? Here is a closer look at RSV, what it is, and how to help keep your kids safe.
Can RSV be Prevented?
Without completely isolating your child (and even that is only 99.9 percent proof), preventing RSV entirely is a tough task. The good news is we can greatly reduce and all but eliminate the risks of our children contracting RSV.
One of the keys to prevention is understanding how RSV works and asking, how do most kids get RSV? The answers to those questions empower parents and guardians with the information to help them protect their children.
When children interact with other children who have RSV, they run the risk of getting infected. When those little hands get in, on, into, and all over, well — everything, any contact with those nose or mouth excretions on people or surfaces is all it takes.
It is also no coincidence that during the colder months, when children spend more time enclosed, correlating outbreaks of RSV occur in classrooms and daycare centers. Some of the signs of RSV can include:
- Irritability
- Decreased activity and or appetite
- Apnea
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing
Preventing RSV
In some cases, RSV can create serious issues and require hospitalization for treatment. The good news is that we can take many simple steps to help keep our children safer during the peak RSV season. Here are a few of the keys to preventing RSV and the steps you can take to reduce the risk of getting RSV for your child as outlined by the CDC:
- Avoid close contact with sick people
- Wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid touching their face with unwashed hands
- Limit the time they spend in childcare centers or other potentially contagious settings during periods of high RSV activity. This may help prevent infection and the spread of the virus during the RSV season
Welcome to Happy Hearts
We are a family-owned business caring for children from 6 weeks to 12 years old. At Happy Hearts on the Hudson, our goal is to establish an environment for children rich in self-expression and self-confidence. Every child learns the importance of responsibility, decision-making, and respect for others.
Our teachers strive to develop the children’s skills by engaging their hearts as well as their minds. Contact our professional, experienced, and dedicated Happy Hearts family if you have any questions or to enroll your child today.