Respiratory syncytial virus is spreading in Egypt and the United States of America, and new cases have started appearing in other countries, which has raised some parents’ concerns for their children, especially after the Corona virus crisis.
The emergence of more cases is felt in several countries, with lower temperatures and the start of the school year in presence, which increases the cases of infection among students.
What is respiratory syncytial virus? And how can it be prevented? Should we panic about a new wave of viruses?
A member of the Egyptian Society for Allergy and Immunology, Dr Magdy Badran explains that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects 73% of children and is a very common respiratory virus.
And he continues in an interview with the Al-Hurra website that this virus, which spreads in the winter and early spring months, is the most common cause of inflammation of the small airways in the lungs and pneumonia in children. And it is the second leading cause of death in the first year of a child’s life after malaria, indicating that between 100,000 and 200,000 children die from the virus every year worldwide.
In context, Dr. Naji Aoun, a specialist in bacterial and infectious diseases, indicates that this infection, for which there are no medicines or vaccines, has spread to several countries, from the United States of America to Egypt and Lebanon.
Cortisone warning
Aoun points out in an interview with Al-Hurra that “a person with respiratory syncytial virus should not take medication without consulting a doctor, because many patients have been prescribed drugs containing cortisone, which has led to the deterioration of their health.”
Aoun said: “This virus often spreads at the beginning of the school year, especially when the weather starts to change and temperatures drop.”
Virus prevention
Respiratory disease specialist Dr. Jihan Al-Assal confirms to Al-Hurra that “prevention of the virus goes through social distancing, hand washing and personal hygiene care, as well as wearing a muzzle”, explaining that it is “the same way to prevent other viruses.”
For his part, Badran points out that “there are many ways of infection with respiratory syncytial virus, and it can be spread through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs, and through contact with contaminated surfaces, where the virus can live for hours. “
In addition to kisses and peace, it can also be spread through direct contact, such as kissing the face of an infected child.
Therefore, Aoun indicates that the spread of this virus “is in the same way as the Corona virus, and has almost the same symptoms and complications, but is less severe than Corona in terms of the common cold.”
“Don’t Panic”
Al-Assal confirms that “there is no need to panic, because the respiratory syncytial virus is not new, and it is seasonal” and explains that “in the last two years the dominant virus has been the crown, but this year all viruses are supposed to look like influenza and syncytial virus”.
Al-Assal says, “During this period, respiratory syncytial virus is spreading in several countries, so it is expected that there will be more infections, but most of them are simple cases.”
characteristics of the infection
Badran notes that “those infected with respiratory syncytial virus run the risk of transmitting the infection for anywhere from three to eight days.”
He said: “What is dangerous is that those who suffer from a lack of immunity become a source of infection, for a period that extends beyond the cessation of symptoms, and the period can reach four weeks.”
Badran said: “Children are exposed to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outside the home at school or childcare centers, and then transmit the virus at home.”
He explains that “the symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection appear after 4-6 days and are similar to a slight cold, from a runny nose, cough, a slight increase in temperature and headache.”
“The virus is highly contagious and spreads to most countries of the world from November to March,” Badran said.
He stressed that “the situation is safe and does not require the study to be postponed”.
He stressed the need to wash hands frequently, take care of personal hygiene to ensure there is no infection, and maintain physical distance from any person with a respiratory infection.
