RSV is one of the most contagious respiratory diseases that is very dangerous for infants and young children. It can cause pneumonia. RSV can occur all year round, but it is more common during the rainy season.
Getting to know RSV virus
RSV virus, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus or another name Human orthopneumovirus, is a virus that causes many infectious diseases in the respiratory system, such as the flu, bronchitis, especially bronchiolitis in young children, which is a cause of lung infections or pneumonia.
If the infection occurs in premature infants, infants under 1 year of age, young children, the elderly, adults with heart and lung disease, or patients with compromised immune systems (low immunity), they may become severely ill and may even be life-threatening.
Who is at risk of RSV infection?
People who are at high risk of developing severe or life-threatening RSV infection include:
- Premature baby
- Infants under 1 year old
- Young children with congenital heart or lung disease
- Children with weakened immune systems, such as those receiving chemotherapy or bone transplants
- Infants in overcrowded daycare centers
- Elderly
- Adults with asthma, heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- People with immunodeficiency, including those. Who have received an organ transplant, those with leukemia, or those infected with HIV or AIDS.
For school-aged children and adults, RSV is not considered a serious health hazard. And is usually an upper respiratory infection that may cause coughing or cold-like symptoms.
Older children and adults have stronger immune systems and larger bronchial tubes, so the swelling and inflammation in the bronchial tubes does not affect the respiratory system to the point of being dangerous, and the illness usually goes away within 1-2 weeks.
Causes of RSV infection
RSV virus spreads easily like common respiratory diseases through droplets from coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, saliva, and phlegm of infected people, as well as through contact with these secretions that are mixed on objects, utensils, and enter the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth.
The virus can survive for several hours on hard objects such as doorknobs, countertops, playpens and toys, and longer on soft surfaces such as hands or toilet paper.
For this reason, http://ufabet999.app RSV is easily transmitted in nurseries or schools.
An infected person is most contagious during the first 2-3 days after exposure. However, the virus can continue to spread for 2-3 weeks, and is more likely to spread during periods of change in weather.
People who have had RSV infection before can get it again, usually around the same time as their previous infection, but the illness is less severe and usually has only cold-like symptoms.
However, reinfection in older adults or those with chronic heart or lung disease can lead to more severe illness.