Common Symptoms Of RSV In Infants

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can affect people of all ages, but infants often get sicker and can experience more complications that older kids and adults. While there is not a cure for RSV, it is important to take your child to see his or her pediatrician if he or she has severe symptoms. Very young infants, infants who were born prematurely, and infants who have breathing or immune system issues are at a higher risk for complications. Treatment for RSV can include giving IV fluids, providing oxygen, and administering medication to open airways; in severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary. Some common symptoms of RSV in infants include:

Difficulty Sleeping and/or Feeding

Some of the symptoms of RSV are very similar to a normal cold. When an infant has RSV, he or she may have a very hard time sleeping, which can lead to him or her being fussy. A more pressing concern is the fact that babies with RSV may have difficulty feeding, whether breastfed or formula fed, which increases the risk of dehydration. If your infant is displaying a drastic decrease in the amount of formula or breast milk that he or she is drinking, it is important to make an appointment with your child's pediatrician.

Wheezing

RSV is a lower respiratory virus that can affect an infant's ability to breathe properly. One of the symptoms of RSV that set it apart from the common cold is the presence of wheezing. Wheezing in an infant who has tiny airways is never a good thing and can become an issue if it is not addressed. If your infant is showing signs of being ill and is also wheezing, it is in your best interest to seek medical attention from a pediatrician to see if further treatment is needed.

Chest Retractions

If your baby has multiple symptoms of a respiratory infection, carefully watch him or her breathe while not wearing a shirt. If he or she is struggling to breathe, you may notice chest retractions where the skin of the chest gets pulled into the ribs. Chest contractions are often a sign that your child is struggling to get enough oxygen, so they should never be ignored. When chest contractions are present, it is important to see a pediatrician as quickly as possible so that oxygen saturation levels can be measured. Oxygen may be needed, and if your infant's oxygen saturation levels are very low, hospitalization may be recommended. 

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