Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for MedImmune. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating
World Prematurity Day is November 17th. Every year, over 13 million babies are born prematurely including half a million babies in the United States. Because of these staggering numbers, it’s crucial for us to raise Preemie Awareness. Many parents are not even aware that prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal death. When I was pregnant with my first daughter (in 2009) I read books on top of books and luckily I knew all about RSV. However, some mommies to be are the opposite and hate to read about all the terrible diseases that could effect their baby. Being pregnant with our second daughter now, I have read back over the most important information just to be safe. I recommend this to all expecting parents.
In a recent survey, 3 in 10 mothers of preemies did not know of the possibility of prematurity until they had their first child. It’s clear that the low level of awareness of prematurity means that many parents don’t understand the risks that accompany premature births. Those parents are also unprepared for the specialized health care that preemies often require.
When preemies are born early, their immune systems and lungs haven’t had time to develop fully, leaving the babies less able to fight off infections and respiratory problems. Over 79% of preemie mothers have had a baby hospitalized for severe respiratory infection. One virus that can be particularly dangerous to preemies is Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV. RSV is actually very common in children and is contracted by more before the age of 2. With most children, RSV simply seems like a cold and passes through the system. For preemies, however, RSV can cause much more serious symptoms. Preemies can develop serious respiratory infections because they don’t have the necessary antibodies to fight off the infection.
RSV: A Risk to Preemies
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common seasonal virus, contracted by nearly all children by the age of two, and typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms in healthy, full-term babies. Preterm infants, however, are born with undeveloped lungs and immature immune systems that put them at heightened risk for developing severe RSV disease, often requiring hospitalization.
RSV infection is more likely to root in premature lungs where developing airways are narrowed and especially fragile
Preterm babies carry fewer virus-fighting antibodies—a precious gift from mom that all infants need while their own immune systems mature after birth
Key RSV Facts:
RSV occurs in epidemics each year, typically from November through March, though it can vary by geography and year-to-year RSV disease is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies during their first year of life in the United States, with approximately 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 400 infant deaths each year
RSV disease is responsible for one of every 13 pediatrician visits and one of every 38 trips to the ER in children under the age of five
Despite being so common, many parents aren’t aware of RSV; in fact, one-third of mothers have never heard of the virus
Learn the Symptoms of Severe RSV Disease:
Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:
Persistent coughing or wheezing
Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
Rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths
Fever [especially if it is over 100.4°F (rectal) in infants under 3 months of age]
How Can I Help Protect My Baby From RSV?
RSV is very contagious and can be spread easily through touching, sneezing and coughing. Additionally, the virus can live on the skin and surfaces for hours. There is no treatment for RSV disease once it’s contracted, so prevention is critical. To help minimize the spread of RSV disease, all parents should:
Wash their hands and ask others to do the same
Keep toys, clothes, blanket and sheets clean
Avoid crowds and other young children during RSV season
Never let anyone smoke around your baby
Steer clear of people who are sick or who have recently been sick
Please help spread the word about RSV Protection to all the new moms in your life.
To learn more about RSV, visit www.rsvprotection.com.
For more about the specialized health needs of preterm infants, visit www.preemievoices.com.
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