RSV – HOW BIG A THREAT IS IT?

An urgent call has gone out to government agencies to assist in what is now a major health concern – the Syncytial virus (RSV).

In the latter part of November the CDC reported record breaking numbers of pediatric cases requiring hospitalization. Among children age 17 and under, nearly 12/100,000 have been hospitalized across the country. For infants under 6 months the rate is a very troubling 145/100,000.

Currently, there is no vaccine for RSV, only supportive care.

Children’s hospitals are specialty hospitals with a limited number of beds. According to national data – three of these hospitals have set up overflow tents to treat both RSV as well as influenza cases, and winter has just begun…

According to Pedro A. Piedra, M.D., professor of virology & microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine “RSV is the major global respiratory pathogen affecting children under age 5.” He adds that “almost half of the deaths occur in children under 6 months of life.”

Mark Wietecha, Children’s Hospital Association CEO, says “Our system is stretched to its limit and without immediate attention the crisis will only worsen.” The American Academy of Pediatrics has echoed a similar warning.

The request for national assistance “Would create flexibility for healthcare providers and systems, particularly regarding government funded programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance program (CHIP).”

 

Please check with your pediatrician regarding how best to safeguard your little ones from RSV and other respiratory infections.

 

RSV IN INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN

(in English and Spanish)