Immature immune systems and anatomically disadvantaged respiratory systems place infants and young children at the highest risk for serious and life-threatening illness from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)Â and other respiratory viral illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 2.1 million outpatient visits among children younger than 5 years old and up to 80,000 hospitalizations in that same population each year.
RSV is a virus that causes common cold symptoms, but it can also cause airway inflammation. Although anyone can get RSV, premature infants and patients under the age of two are most vulnerable.
How does RSV spread?
Droplets from coughs or sneezes can carry RSV, making it highly contagious, especially in childcare facilities and schools.
What are symptoms of RSV?
RSV can present with a runny nose, decreased appetite, cough and/or wheezing or difficulty breathing. In very young infants, you may notice irritability and decreased activity, too. Fever doesn’t always accompany RSV.
Can RSV be prevented?
To avoid RSV and severe illness in your family, you should wash your hands and clean surfaces frequently, cover coughs, and avoid close contact with sick individuals. If you or your child become sick, stay home.
To protect against other respiratory diseases and reduce sickness in your household, you should have everyone who is 6 months and older vaccinated for influenza (flu) and COVID-19.
Hear from Our Experts
NAPNAP President Dr. Jennifer Sonney appeared on various radio shows to discuss important facts about RSV. Listen to her interviews here!
NAPNAP Member-at-Large Dr. Chelsea Woosley recorded a 60-second RSV-focused message for Spanish speaking communities across the country.
RSV Poster
NAPNAP member experts Emily Davis, Brittany Bradshaw and Karen Acevedo collaborated to create an infographic-type poster. This poster will be distributed to members to help inform their pediatric patient families about the common signs and symptoms of RSV and prevention and treatment options.
RSV Awareness Campaign
NAPNAP recently launched a social media campaign to build awareness about RSV to protect vulnerable patients. NAPNAP members experts Brittany Bradshaw and Karen Acevedo helped us explore different topics, such as identification, prevention and treatment strategies pertaining to pediatric RSV cases.
With new topics being explored each week, this social media campaign is an excellent way for us to share quick but informative resources for our pediatric-focused NP community to share with their patient families.
Follow this awareness campaign by visiting one of NAPNAP’s social media accounts.
Need to Know Info
NAPNAP Official Statement on the Pediatric RSV Crisis
NAPNAP Micro-learning recordings from respiratory experts – coming soon!
NAPNAP Provider Pocket Guide – coming soon!
Health care provider information – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
RSV Resources & Positions – National Coalition for Infant Health
Call to Action Reducing the Burden of RSV Across the Lifespan – National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
AAP updates interim guidance on preventing severe RSV, handling surge of patients – American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
RethinkRSV.com – Sanofi provider site
More info coming soon!
What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know about RSV (flip to p. 12) – digital magazine article by NAPNAP’s Dr. Jennifer Sonney
RSV patient and family information in English and en Espa̱ol РNAPNAP/KidsHealth
RSV/public health video – National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
General guidance – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
