MUSKEGON, Mich.- It was just five weeks ago that Shannon Rudicil left Hackley Hospital in Muskegon with her adorable baby boy, Dallas. Little did she know, that they would be back, admitting her tiny son for two overnight stays due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“RSV is a respiratory virus that is very common for children under 2 years of age,” infection control preventionist Summer Pike said. “It’s actually the most common respiratory infections that we see. Its symptoms can be runny nose, cough, some lose their appetite when they are younger children you can tell.”
In most cases, the children fight their way through it, with not so much as a visit to the doctor. However, in some cases it can attack the lungs and have serious consequences.
The Rudicils, it all started last Thursday, and the doctor passed it off as a common cold, Shannon said. She kept an eye on Dallas, but he got worse. “He started wheezing and more coughing, kind of like he’s choking.” Shannon said.
By Tuesday, Dallas was in the emergency room. “They took his oxygen … It was very low. After getting the baby on an IV and oxygen, blood work was done, and the diagnosis was RSV.
Shannon noticed Dallas’ color changing, a major symptom. She also noticed that when she would snuggle him up to her chest, which he usually loved, he fought to sit up instead.
Just like the flu spike this season, RSV is also on the rise, doctors say. Pike advises that any parent to follow their instincts.
While there is no way to immunize for RSV, having good hand washing hygiene and disinfecting the house can play a big role in keeping this deadly virus at bay.
