It just started as a cold. At least that’s what I thought. A baby sniffles more often, especially when they go to daycare. So I was not immediately shocked by the small cough and stuffy nose of my daughter of five months old. But that changed when her breathing became increasingly difficult.
For the past year and a half, I’ve been mainly concerned about the coronavirus. On the one hand, and rightly so, because there is a pandemic that has claimed millions of victims. I absolutely do not want to downplay Covid-19. But with the focus on the coronavirus, you sometimes almost forget that there are other diseases as well. Until you are confronted with the facts.
Her lungs were full of mucus
In the hospital, my daughter was tested for a whole laundry list of potential viruses that could have caused her distress. In the end, one turned out to be ‘positive’: the respiratory syncytial virus, also known as the RS virus. That had led to bronchiolitis in her. Her lungs were full of mucus.
Strangely enough, I actually didn’t know the RS virus at all. I wonder if I had heard of it before that week. But exactly on the day my daughter started coughing slightly, I saw it on the RTL Nieuws site the story of Maria who told that her son had ended up in intensive care because of the RS virus.
The RS virus is the world’s leading cause of death in babies after malaria
In the Netherlands, last month even a delayed epidemic detected. Normally, the virus is mainly around in the winter months. But due to the corona measures, it was difficult to spread last winter. The current outbreak may be caused by the easing.
The fact that my daughter became ill during the same period is purely coincidental. Her infection took place in Brazil, where it is now winter and was therefore ‘normal’ in that respect. But it does show how widespread the RS virus is. Worldwide it is the leading cause of death in babies after malaria. Every year 118,000 young children die from the effects of the virus.
In my arms her little body went up and down
When I heard the diagnosis of my own daughter, it was a shock. Fortunately, with her more than five months, she is already a bit stronger than, for example, a newborn baby. Her condition was cause for concern and we had to keep a close eye on it. But after a few hours of observation in the hospital, she was finally allowed to go home.
Still, it was exciting. Her little body rose and fell in my arms. The scariest thing was when her breath caught. But luckily the next morning, despite her shortness of breath and fatigue, she again put a small smile on her face.
And as quickly as her situation had deteriorated, luckily she recovered just as quickly. Thanks to a lot of nasal rinses and special respiratory physiotherapy. She is now a happy and healthy baby again. But I’m afraid I’ll never look at a snot nose with the same eyes again.
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