Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antivirals, for vulnerable categories of infants and young children, will be offered to maternity hospitals by a manufacturer. 8 years ago, they were administered free of charge as part of a national program.
More than 60% of lower respiratory tract infections in children under the age of five are caused by RSV, an RNA virus. Being a viral problem, doctors recommend parents not to intervene with antibiotics.
“It is a virus that significantly affects especially infants and children with complex heart malformations or who have an associated respiratory disease. Passive immunization of these children can be done preventively. There are two diseases caused by RSV, namely pneumonia viral interstitial and bronchiolitis. The most important thing is prevention, especially in premature babies. Since the infection manifests itself in the form of “winter epidemics”, between September and April, it is advisable, as a prevention, to avoid crowded places, and if the little ones show signs of pneumonia or bronchiolitis, it is advisable to take them immediately to the family doctor, who offers the appropriate treatment, which usually consists of the administration of antivirals “.explained Dr Mihai-Sorin Iacob, specialist in family medicine and pediatrics.
The antiviral drug would have no side effects after administration.
“We used this free antiviral eight years ago, for a short time, as part of a national program, but only in maternity hospitals and pediatric hospitals that have neonatology wards. (…) In recent years, in our country , such treatments have not been carried out. Now the manufacturers have reintroduced these antivirals, free of charge. “said pediatric pulmonologist Ioana Ciucă, from the pediatric clinic II of the Timisoara County Hospital.
“These injections, which are not vaccines, are prescribed free of charge by family doctors for vulnerable categories of children up to two years of age, on the recommendation of the specialist doctor. Other children are not recommended to take this medicine. The category of vulnerable children, if they do not receive this monthly prophylaxis, for five consecutive months, they may develop severe forms of the disease, some of them may even end up in the NICU, may develop severe forms of the disease, end up intubated, with extremely unfavorable conditions . “also said Mărioara Boia, head of the premature neonatology clinic of the children’s hospital “Louis Ţurcanu” in Timisoara.
Vulnerable categories include babies born prematurely, those with congenital heart malformations, premature babies who develop pulmonary dysplasia, and other types of severe malformations. RSV can also affect older people, who have vulnerability and multimorbidity. The virus is transmitted very easily through sneezing or coughing, through direct contact between people or the shared use of drinking containers and cutlery.
