One of the most common viruses in the world, respiratory syncytial virus
(RSV) hits just about everyone at some point in their lives. The vast
majority of us experience it before the age of two years. And we, or
rather, our parents, never even realized it. And that's because it
looks just like a cold. And the children who have it act just like
they've got a cold.
The incubation period is four to six days before symptoms appear. In a
normal course of the illness, the patient has a congested, runny nose,
dry cough, fever, sore throat, and/or headache. A person usually sheds
the virus and is contagious for about eight days. However, individuals
with compromised immune systems can shed the virus for a lot longer, up
to several weeks after symptoms have disappeared. That's something to
keep in mind if you've got a baby who's at risk for complications.
And that's because RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and
pneumonia in infants under one year of age. Those at greatest risk are
premature infants, young children with congenital heart or lung
problems, and anyone with a compromised immune system. In these people,
RSV can become very serious, even life-threatening. Symptoms of a more
serious course of the disease include fever, severe cough, wheezing,
and rapid breathing or difficulty breathing. The skin may develop a
bluish tinge due to the lack of oxygen. The child's chest muscles and
skin pull inward as the child struggles to breathe. Irritability,
lethargy, and poor feeding are also common.
Older adults with heart and lung issues or compromised immune systems
are also at risk for developing pneumonia from RSV, but the course of
the disease is generally not so severe.
RSV is spread through the air, through droplets, and person-to-person
contact. The virus lives for several hours on hard and soft surfaces.
If you think you are dealing with a serious case of RSV, especially in
an infant, get him to a physician as quickly as possible. If there is
no doctor, the best herbs are Chinese skullcap, isatis, elder, and
licorice. If it develops into mild pneumonia, treat as such. If it
develops into moderate to severe pneumonia, also approach treatment as
such.
Links to related posts:
Elderberry Syrup
Pneumonia
Herbal Antivirals book review
For further information:
Stephen Buhner, Herbal Antivirals.
https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/transmission.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353098
https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/index.html
1 april 2020
24 april 2022
Canadian gov issued a notice of 'critical' shortage of amoxicillin. FDA in US also saying the same.
ReplyDeleteBoth are blaiming it on the evels of RSV sick kids in hospitals.
Exile1981
Why are they treating a virus with an antibiotic?
DeleteAccording to one article, the virus makes children more susceptible to ear infections, and those are most commonly treated with amoxicillin. I'm surprised it is still being prescribed if there is a shortage. Ear infections will resolve without it, but it's excruciating pain for a child to be in. If only people would prepare better--with supplies and skills.
Delete