>> RSV IS A VIRUS THAT CAN ATTACK ANY OF US, BUT IT’S MOST DANGEROUS TO THE VERY YOUNG , MAKING IT HARD TO BREATHE. PRIMARILY INFANTS UNDER-YEAR-OLD. >> IF YOUR CHILD HAS A HIGH FEVER AND RAPID BREATHING, OR IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO BREATHE, OR A YOUNG INFANT IS HAVING PERIODS OF NON-BREATHING, YOU NEED TO GET THEM SEEN RIGHT AWAY. KELLY: THIS SPECIALIST SAYS SHE HAS SEEN A BIG INCREASE IN CASES IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. SYMPTOMS ARE MORE SEVERE THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AND THIS TIME, IT IS IMPACTING OLDER TODDLERS AS WELL. THERE IS NO VACCINE TO PROTECT AGAINST RSV. >> WE ARE SEEING IT IN INFANTS AND OLDER KIDS. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ASSES THE RESPIRATORY STATUS. WE WOULD WANT HIM TO COME IN AND GET THE SUPPORTIVE CARE THEY NEED AS THEIR BODY FIGHTS OFF THE VIRUS. KELLY: THERE IS NO VACCINE. PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE. AVOID SPREADING GERMS. >> IT IS REALLY EASY TO SPREAD PERSON-TO-PERSON. IT SPREADS THROUGH COUGHS IT SPREADS THROUGH SNEEZES BUT IT ALSO SPREADS THROUGH SURFACES. THE VIRUS CAN REMAIN VIABLE ON A SURFACE LIKE A TABLETOP OR A CRIB RAIL FOR 12
RSV on rise in Kansas City
Virus most dangerous to very young
It’s not just flu on the rise in Kansas City. Doctors are also warning about an increase in another dangerous virus, respiratory syncytial virus.RSV affects the lungs. It typically hits this time of year. RSV is a virus that can attack anyone, but it is most dangerous to the very young, making it hard to breathe.”If your child has high fever or rapid breathing or it looks like they’re working hard to breathe, or in a young infant, if they’re having periods of not breathing, you need to get seen right away,” said Dr. Angela Myers, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Mercy Hospital.Myers said she is seeing a big increase in RSV cases in recent weeks. Symptoms are more severe than in previous years. This time, it is affecting older toddlers, as well. “RSV can cause respiratory failure in infants, and even we’re seeing it in older kids, too. So it’s really important to assess their respiratory status. We would want them to come in and get the supportive care they need to support their body while their body fights off the virus,” Myers said.There is no vaccine to protect against RSV. Prevention is the best medicine. Avoid spreading germs.”RSV is really easy to spread person to person. It spreads through coughs. It spreads through sneezes, but it also spreads through surfaces. The virus can remain viable on a surface like a tabletop or a crib rail for 12 hours,” Myers said.Symptoms to look for are fever, severe cough, wheezing and rapid breathing or difficulty breathing.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —It’s not just flu on the rise in Kansas City. Doctors are also warning about an increase in another dangerous virus, respiratory syncytial virus.RSV affects the lungs.
It typically hits this time of year. RSV is a virus that can attack anyone, but it is most dangerous to the very young, making it hard to breathe.”If your child has high fever or rapid breathing or it looks like they’re working hard to breathe, or in a young infant, if they’re having periods of not breathing, you need to get seen right away,” said Dr. Angela Myers, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Mercy Hospital.Myers said she is seeing a big increase in RSV cases in recent weeks. Symptoms are more severe than in previous years. This time, it is affecting older toddlers, as well. “RSV can cause respiratory failure in infants, and even we’re seeing it in older kids, too. So it’s really important to assess their respiratory status. We would want them to come in and get the supportive care they need to support their body while their body fights off the virus,” Myers said.There is no vaccine to protect against RSV. Prevention is the best medicine. Avoid spreading germs.”RSV is really easy to spread person to person. It spreads through coughs. It spreads through sneezes, but it also spreads through surfaces. The virus can remain viable on a surface like a tabletop or a crib rail for 12 hours,” Myers said.Symptoms to look for are fever, severe cough, wheezing and rapid breathing or difficulty breathing.
