Recently, a number of media reported that they had dodged COVID-19, A flow and respiratory syncytial virus. Not long after the peak of H1N1 influenza, there have been more children with respiratory infections in pediatric clinics in multiple hospitals. 'It's getting hot again,' 'This time it's a severe cough,' 'It's like a bellows, a bit like asthma.' Many parents are anxious to see their children suffering from a fever, and the number of respiratory syncytial virus infections is increasing. On social media, many parents shared the process of their children's recent infection with respiratory syncytial virus, lamenting that this virus is threatening, even more terrible than COVID-19 and swine flu, which makes people uneasy. So, what is syncytial virus? What are the manifestations? How can we prevent it? Below, I will introduce it to everyone.
1、 What is respiratory syncytial virus?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a type of single negative stranded RNA virus that can invade the nasopharyngeal mucosa and respiratory epithelial cells of the body, proliferate, and cause respiratory infections.
Infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus can occur throughout the year, but are more common in winter and spring. People of different age groups can be infected, with infants and young children under the age of 5 being the main infected population. Studies have shown that in 2020, the number of RSV infections among children under 5 years old worldwide reached 34.6 million, with China alone having 3 million infections.
2、 People susceptible to syncytial virus
1. Children, usually under 2 years old; 2. Infants and children who attend daycare classes, or children who frequently visit public places such as parks; 3. It is easy to spread among siblings, often spreading from sick older siblings to younger siblings; 4. Frequently sharing food can also lead to sharing food contaminated with viruses; 5. Infection occurs when hands come into contact with objects contaminated with the virus and then touch the face, nose, mouth, or eyes; 6. Adults living in communal places such as nursing homes are also susceptible populations; 7. People who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke; 8. Crowded living environment; Children from families with multiple children; 10.21 Trisomy Syndrome
III. Preventive Measures for Syncytial Virus
Respiratory syncytial virus can be transmitted through contact or droplets. For example, the most common route of transmission is direct contact between nasal and ocular mucosa and secretions or pollutants containing respiratory syncytial virus. The general measures for preventing respiratory syncytial virus infection mainly include the following categories.
1. Pay attention to cough etiquette. Cover your mouth and nose with tissues, sleeves, or elbows when coughing or sneezing.
2. Do not litter. Do not discard tissues with secretions indiscriminately.
3. Wash hands frequently. When a family member is infected with respiratory syncytial virus, it is important for close contacts to wash their hands frequently to prevent transmission.
4. Do not gather. During the respiratory syncytial virus epidemic season, infants and young children should try to avoid crowded areas, especially those with high levels of children. Keep children away from smoking environments and reduce the inhalation of secondhand smoke.
5. Attention should be paid to rest to avoid causing physical fatigue and reducing the body's immune and disease resistance.
4、 The treatment method for respiratory syncytial virus infection requires symptomatic treatment first.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection may cause respiratory tract infections, among which upper respiratory tract infections are more common. Especially for adults and adolescents, respiratory syncytial virus infection may only be a common upper respiratory tract infection. At this time, only symptomatic treatment with some antibiotics is needed, and the condition can usually gradually recover.
In addition, sometimes antiviral drugs are also needed. For example, respiratory syncytial virus infection can sometimes lead to bronchiolitis, especially in younger children. After respiratory syncytial virus infection, it may cause bronchiolitis, leading to chest tightness and wheezing. At this time, it is usually necessary to use some antiviral drugs and actively treat the symptoms. Sometimes even auxiliary treatments such as oxygen therapy are needed.
So, due to this viral infection, it often leads to severe pneumonia, viral pneumonia, severe viral pneumonia, etc., causing patients to experience septic shock and systemic organ damage, and even life-threatening situations. When patients develop syncytial virus infection, they need to immediately go to the hospital for detailed examination and targeted treatment measures.