What parents need to know about RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season is here, and doctors are urging parents to get their infants vaccinated and to be aware of serious symptoms.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
RSV is a common virus that occurs every year, with peak viral season starting around late fall to winter. People struggling with RSV may experience a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, fever and feel fatigued. Infants may be irritable, have trouble breathing and have less appetite and energy.
While the virus typically causes symptoms of the common cold, some infants, seniors and immunocompromised people can experience more serious illnesses.
"Young infants or people who are older are at increased risk of significant medical complications," said Dr. Chuck Hui, the chief of infectious diseases with the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), in an interview with CTV Morning Live.
"In some children, especially young infants, you can get some lower respiratory tract infection causing difficulty breathing, needing for them to see a physician, sometimes being admitted and sometimes going to the ICU."
Almost 100 per cent of infants will have been infected with the virus by the age of two, according to Hui. He says the main indicator of when an RSV infection is more serious is when a child is having difficulty breathing.
"That's certainly concerning," he said.
Starting this fall, families with infants and high-risk children up to 24 months old, will have access to a new RSV immunization called Beyfortus. Hui is advising toddlers receive the immunizations for its protection against the risk of serious illnesses that require hospitalization and admittance to the ICU.
"Its really exciting," he said.
"There's not only benefit to the individual patient, but there's increased benefits to the system as a whole – decreased emergency visits, decreased hospitalization and especially during a time period where we see a lot of pressure."
An RSV vaccine is also available for pregnant women who are between 32 to 36 weeks pregnant and who will deliver near or during the start of RSV season.
Being vaccinated during pregnancy helps your immune system create antibodies that protect the baby from RSV from birth until six months old, according to Ottawa Public Health.
Both immunization options are covered through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.
Parents can access the vaccine for their child through their primary care provider. Those without a family physician can book an appointment through CHEO's Kids Come First Clinic or their local health authority.
According to Ottawa Public Health, RSV can be treated at home with over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain. Do not give ibuprofen to babies under six months old without speaking to a health care provider and never give aspirin to children.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Donald Trump picks former U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra as ambassador to Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has nominated former diplomat and U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra to be the American ambassador to Canada.
Genetic evidence backs up COVID-19 origin theory that pandemic started in seafood market
A group of researchers say they have more evidence to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Chinese seafood market where it spread from infected animals to humans. The evidence is laid out in a recent study published in Cell, a scientific journal, nearly five years after the first known COVID-19 outbreak.
This is how much money you need to make to buy a house in Canada's largest cities
The average salary needed to buy a home keeps inching down in cities across Canada, according to the latest data.
'My two daughters were sleeping': London Ont. family in shock after their home riddled with gunfire
A London father and son they’re shocked and confused after their home was riddled with bullets while young children were sleeping inside.
Smuggler arrested with 300 tarantulas strapped to his body
Police in Peru have arrested a man caught trying to leave the country with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants strapped to his body.
Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Baby dies after being reported missing in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a “suspicious incident” at a Toronto Community Housing building in the city’s midtown area on Wednesday afternoon.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
Parole board reverses decision and will allow families of Paul Bernardo's victims to attend upcoming parole hearing in person
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo will be allowed to attend the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) says.