Respiratory syncytial virus, named because of the unique appearance of infected cells under the microscope.
Posted on 08/28/2021 12:50:28 PM PDT by Qiviut
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a highly infectious virus that can lead to serious disease in children. The virus emerges each year roughly at the time school starts in the fall and subsides later in the spring. Midsummer RSV is unusual. Last year we did not see the typical rise in RSV, but this year the RSV surge started much earlier and is of much greater magnitude than normal. Our COVD-19 response has unintentionally increased children’s risk from RSV infection.
Respiratory syncytial virus, named because of the unique appearance of infected cells under the microscope.
Lock downs, social distancing, and masking, whether voluntary or mandated, changed the rhythm of upper respiratory infections like RSV and Flu. Flu has yet to return; the last infection diagnosed in my practice was in May, 2020, at the tail of the 2019-2020 season. But RSV has returned with a vengeance, all over the world. To illustrate, look at this graph of RSV infections in Tokyo for the years 2017-2021. And this year’s cases are more severe than before. According to CDC, “Due to the reduced circulation of RSV during the winter months of 2020–2021, older infants and toddlers might now be at increased risk of severe RSV-associated illness since they have likely not had typical levels of exposure to RSV during the past 15 months.” You read that right. Anti-COVID measures, regardless how well-intentioned or how necessary, will cause more severe RSV disease in our children this year.
Just how severe is RSV? RSV is a major viral cause of death in children 5 years of age and younger, with mortality rates estimated between 0.5 and 1.7% in healthy U.S. children, but devastatingly higher in immunosuppressed children and in the children of the developing world. By comparison, the mortality risk for infants and children infected by SARS-CoV-2 is under 0.03%. RSV is a more serious risk to our kids than COVID.
There is no vaccine for RSV, and there is no treatment other than supportive care. Severe cases require ventilator support in a pediatric ICU. Most patients survive. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics Red Book, most kids are exposed to RSV by the age of 2, and reinfection is common.
Which brings us to the point. Even though RSV can cause a serious and deadly viral respiratory illness, the virus circulates among children. Children live with this virus. RSV prevention measures are targeted toward those at highest risk of death from the virus. Eradication of RSV is not the objective, and, as our experience in 2020 and 2021 suggests, may not even be desirable. The disruption of the seasonal viral pattern by implementation of COVID-19 precautions has increased the risk of sickness and death by RSV this year. Children derive benefits from natural exposure to RSV that may be important to their future survival.
We need to be aware that our actions during this pandemic can have consequences beyond what is in view. Homelessness, suicide, drug overdose, and now increased RSV–all unintended consequences of our public health policies. With this in mind, and the possibility of other unknown variables, we need to target our prevention efforts toward those at greatest danger. We must agree on a clear, sensible, and attainable objective. We must learn to live with the virus.
Ping - Dr. Homer
What was the old fashioned name for this?
Homer Simpson?
What was the old fashioned name for this?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I don’t know - maybe ‘croup’ which is a virus and is, by definition, “marked by episodes of difficult breathing and low-pitched cough resembling the bark of a seal.”
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/illnesses-ailments-diseases-history-names/croup
My nephew had RSV at about 2 & had to be hospitalized ... no cough that I recall, just couldn’t breathe.
Thanks for the ping. Dr. Homer’s closing remarks are being ignored by politicians and MDs trying to be politicians rather then good doctors!:
“We need to be aware that our actions during this pandemic can have consequences beyond what is in view. Homelessness, suicide, drug overdose, and now increased RSV–all unintended consequences of our public health policies. With this in mind, and the possibility of other unknown variables, we need to target our prevention efforts toward those at greatest danger. We must agree on a clear, sensible, and attainable objective. We must learn to live with the virus.”
By Kevin Homer, MD
Indeed.
This is just another example of how overprotecting kids can ultimately doom them.
We used to talk about this mostly regarding letting kids play an dirt and so on, rather than being perfectly clean all the time.
They will just label it as Covid-19 "variant" and push even more stupidity.
My 24 year old twin daughters almost died of RSV. One was on a ventilator for a week, and has a brain injury.
The other was on a ventilator for a month, and she still has terrible asthma when she gets respiratory attacks.
I’ve been reading about RSV with a vengeance this summer.
I’m glad your twin daughters survived, but sorry they still have serious after effects. ~Q
Bingo -masking. One study of children’s masks, after wearing them for one day, found they were more contaminated than toilet water........
My adult daughter got sick in March, 2020, and ended up in ER. They diagnosed RSV. This was before there was a covid test. Later research found 10 to 15% of covid cases also have RSV at the same time.
My brother’s doctor kept telling him he had Respiratory Syncytial Virus not Covid for the last three weeks because they suspected the grandchildren gave it to them.
My brother did not isolate and continue like business as usual.
His daughter and Son-in law had covid. The grandchild carried covid with them (mis-label as RSV) to his house.
The kids doctor stated they had RSV because that was the flavor of the day and their very young age (4 and 1).
Last week my brother found out he had Covid. Both him and wife are now extremely sick. I might be driving them to the hospital this week if they do not get better.
Watch out for sick grandchildren they could have covid mistaken for RSV.
I tested negative on a rapid test kit, but had a sinus drain. Not sure if that is allergies or covid. I am self-locking down just in case. I work from home 100% and have very little exposure to the world.
Your brother & his wife shouldn’t wait to long. Monoclonal antibody treatment has been very effective but should be given in the first 10 days before symptoms get too severe.
They miss the time period for the Monoclonal. They are not having fevers anymore, and O2 levels are the 90s now. Hopefully, they have been through the worse.
I will check on them again in the morning.
Glad to hear they’re feeling better.
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