Respiratory syncytial virus is responsible for 80% of bronchiolitis in babies in Spain

MADRID, Jan. 27 (EUROPA PRESS) -

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main cause of lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age and, in Spain, it causes 80 percent of bronchiolitis, a common lung infection in babies and children. small that causes inflammation and congestion in the bronchioles of the lung, as alerted by Sanofi.

Most cases are mild and usually resolve after a few weeks without treatment, but in others, respiratory distress can worsen and require hospitalization.

The evolution of the disease caused by RSV is unpredictable. There are certain vulnerability factors in some children, such as being born prematurely or having chronic heart or respiratory diseases, which lead to a higher risk of hospitalization or admission to pediatric intensive care units (PICU).

However, this risk also extends to all children, since in Spain 98.3% of those under 1 year of age hospitalized for RSV are healthy full-term infants; Similarly, 3 out of 4 PICU admissions occur in children without vulnerability factors.

"This virus affects completely healthy children. Those under 6 months of age are the ones who, above all, can get very sick and require hospitalization, sometimes even in intensive care. Additionally, children who have serious symptoms and who are admitted have then a greater risk of suffering from similar episodes during the first years of life, as well as of developing asthma in the long term", explains Dr. Cristina Calvo, head of the Pediatrics, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Service section of the Hospital Universitario La Paz, in Madrid, and president of the Spanish Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP)

RSV infection is also associated with a higher incidence of allergic otitis and rhinitis, in addition to asthma, and with excessive use of antibiotics. Also, children hospitalized for this cause are more likely to have wheezing, a high-pitched whistling sound in the baby's breathing.

A VERY COMMON VIRUS THAT AFFECTS DURING THE FIRST YEARS OF LIFE

RSV is highly contagious and is most often transmitted in day care centers and schools, due to close contact between children. 33 percent of the infections to babies who are still at home, occur through siblings and/or cousins ​​already in school. In fact, the incidence of RSV is almost double in children with siblings than in single children. Therefore, it is estimated that 90 percent of children will have been infected by RSV during the first two years of life.

In Spain, infections cause between 15,000 and 20,000 emergency pediatric visits and 7,000 to 14,000 hospitalizations annually. Nearly 54 percent of infants under one year of age hospitalized for RSV were born between April and October when they faced their first season of RSV, and most were admitted with no prior history of vulnerability.

Despite the large number of cases reported each year, RSV is still unknown to most parents, who are more familiar with bronchiolitis than with the virus that causes it.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE VIRUS AND AVOID IT

RSV is spread through coughing, sneezing, and close physical contact. It can survive for hours on surfaces; however, there are certain preventive measures that can be taken to protect the baby, such as regular hand washing, disinfecting their toys, clothing and bedding frequently, and avoiding close contact with anyone who is unwell.

After an incubation period of 1 to 4 days, dry cough, sneezing, nasal congestion, and otitis may be an indication of a possible case of RSV. The infection can go further and manifest itself in the form of fever, lack of appetite, irritability, difficulty sleeping or prolonged sleep.

When the virus progresses to cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia, respiratory distress increases and there may be a decrease in oxygen pressure in the blood, even being seen in the skin that it acquires a bluish hue.

Currently, the only treatment for mild infection is limited to symptomatic relief and can be treated on an outpatient basis, while more severe cases may require hospitalization. Once hospitalized, these children may require care such as supplemental oxygen, intravenous fluids, and/or require mechanical ventilation.

NEED FOR PREVENTION STRATEGIES

In this context, having prevention strategies that protect all babies against RSV is essential to avoid future complications.

During the last decade, significant advances have been made in the knowledge of the virus and, although an effective tool for its prevention in all healthy children is not yet available, different immunization strategies are currently being developed that could protect children in the near future.