Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Kids
Ray Smith
/ Categories: 2022, 2022

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Kids

Here at SVMC and the surrounding area, we are seeing the expected annual increase in pediatric respiratory illnesses, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV), influenza, COVID, and rhinoviruses in children. Many places across the country are experiencing a big spike in RSV and other respiratory illnesses among kids and we expect the same.

As parents and caregivers, here’s some helpful information:

  • RSV causes cold-like symptoms similar to many other viruses, including fever, cough, and runny nose.
  • RSV can be more severe in certain patients, particularly those who are under 3 months old, are premature or have underlying conditions affecting their immune system or heart defects. These children may be more likely to be hospitalized but less than 5% of all children with RSV require hospitalization.
  • Avoid visits to the doctor or emergency department, unless your child has concerning symptoms such as trouble breathing or drinking. Some parents expect to get tested in the same way we used to test for COVID, but testing is not indicated in most cases, because the outcome doesn’t affect the treatment plan.
  • There are no treatments for RSV but some children may benefit from asthma type treatments such as nebulizers or inhalers. This is a small portion and this is not needed for most kids.
  • There are no home medications for RSV in children, but there are many things you can do to make your child more comfortable. Over the counter (OTC) cough medications are not recommended for children under 6 years of age. There are some non-medicated “herbal” over the counter medications for younger children but these have not been sufficiently studied for broad recommendation and are unlikely to make a significant difference in symptoms.
  • Rest, good hydration, nasal suction, cool mist vaporizer, honey (for children over 1 years old), and steam baths can help relieve cough and congestion.
  • If your child is experiencing severe symptoms (significant discomfort, prolonged symptoms), call your pediatrician’s office and don’t hesitate to bring them to the emergency department if they are having difficulty breathing or staying hydrating.
  • To minimize the effects of other illnesses, we recommend that parents vaccinate their children who are 6 months and older against the flu and COVID. Children 5 and older who have been previously vaccinated against COVID are now recommended to get the bivalent (“updated”) booster against COVID which can be done at the SVMC COVID Resource Center.
  • Stay away from sick people, particularly infants, away from sick people. American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations are to keep your child at home from school and all other activities when the child has a fever or acute sick symptoms interfering with play/participation.

RSV can be scary but most children can get through it without significant problems and back to play within a week!

Meghan Gunn, MD, is a pediatrician at SVMC Pediatrics and the chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington.

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OB/GYN Care in a New Age

I am a strong believer in preventive care. Our patients are healthiest and OB/GYN physicians are most successful when we see each other at least annually and as soon as concerns arise. While this hasn't always been possible throughout the pandemic, I am happy to report that it is slowly getting easier to provide and receive care in the ways we had been used to, with a few adjustments for added safety.

I am especially concerned about patients who may have delayed care. While some concerns can safely wait a short while, putting off care in other situations may worsen the condition or the outcome. I encourage both new and returning patients to call the office to discuss resuming regular care and discussing any concerns that may have come up.

Here's what you can expect, including some of the innovative ways we are meeting patients' needs safely.

When you call the office, the receptionists will schedule an appointment for you. An easy telehealth option is great for reviewing results, developing care plans, providing contraceptive and fertility counseling, and consulting about weight management. For these purposes, the receptionist will likely recommend a televisit. It is very easy to connect and so convenient; while we love seeing you in person, we have to wonder why we haven’t been using telehealth appointments all along! Complete information about telehealth visits can be found here.

As you might expect, OB/GYN care often requires a physical examination, so many of our patient visits—including those for patients needing annual exams, testing, and therapeutic appointments—are still happening in person and in the office. The receptionists are working to stagger visits to decrease the number of people in the office at any one time.

Those coming to the office in person will notice a check-in station at the entrance to the Medical Office Building. The attendant will ask you a few questions about any symptoms you have and lend you a cloth face covering to use, if you don't have one. Wearing the mask over both your mouth and nose for your entire visit is required. For your safety and theirs, you will notice that all staff are wearing masks, too, along with either goggles or a shield. Hopefully you can still tell that we are all smiling, even under our masks!

If an outpatient elective surgical procedure is a part of your care plan, your OB/GYN and other staff will walk you through the process. A few changes, including COVID-19 testing in advance and intensified monitoring after the procedure, increases patient safety.

For those expecting to deliver a baby at SVMC, we are focused on maintaining all of the wonderful things our patients have come to expect from their experiences on the Women's and Children’s unit. Caring medical staff and nurses, individualized attention, and compassionate support are all in abundant supply.

Like when coming to the office, growing families will notice the check-in at the hospital's main entrance and staff wearing protective equipment. Our visitor’s policy indicates only one support person. We recognize that this is so challenging, and we are working to provide all of the support we can to bring your birth experience safely in line with what you had hoped, right down to the cheering support squad provided by a family via video chat during a delivery I attended earlier this week.

In the case that a family has had any exposure to COVID-19, the Women's and Children’s Unit has its own negative-pressure room. Extensive infection-prevention policies—consistent across all of the medical professionals involved with care for growing families, including OB/GYNs, pediatricians, midwives, and nurses—keep moms, babies, families, and staff safe. In fact, SVMC recently got a perfect score on a rigorous survey specifically designed to judge our infection-prevention measures.

Our ongoing commitment—pandemic or no pandemic, no matter your OB/GYN need—is to work through your concerns and deliver safe, individualized, and effective care for you. We hope that new and returning patients will call on us to help them maintain or regain their health. We are open, ready, and safe to provide the care you need.

Kimberley Sampson, MD, is the medical director of OB/GYN at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

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