NOS / Jeroen van Eijndhoven
News from the NOS•
One in 56 children in Europe is hospitalized with RS virus during the first year of life, according to research by UMC Utrecht. This is more than initially thought.
Pediatric Infectious Doctor Louis Bont was in charge of this study and was surprised by the numbers. “Five years ago we didn’t know exactly how big the RS virus problem was. And now we can finally give it a number. One in 56 children in hospital with RS is a lot,” he said in the statement. NOS Radio 1 News.
RS virus is a respiratory infection caused by the respiratory syncytial virus. Every winter there is a spike in the number of infections with the RS virus. Symptoms of the RS virus are rhinitis, cough, wheezing. As a result, children drink less. Bont advises parents to seek immediate medical attention in the event of cold ailments during the first month of babies’ life.
Vaccination on the way
Last Friday the European Union approved a first vaccine against the RS virus. It is not yet clear how long it will take to use the vaccine. “In the Netherlands, the RS virus is not a fatal disease, so the purchase price of vaccines, for example, will be closely scrutinized. The number of infections is then weighed against the cost of the vaccine.” says the pediatrician.
A study on vaccinating pregnant women and protecting their unborn child from the RS virus is still ongoing. The first results of this international study involving 7400 pregnant women are positive. According to the first results, the child is thus protected against the RS virus by the vaccine.
Increase after the crown measures
Measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus have also helped curb the spread of diseases such as the RS virus. “We are also preparing in the Netherlands for further hospitalizations related to the RS virus. We see the RS virus escalating again with three children currently in intensive care.”
RS virus is the second leading cause of death in children worldwide. In the Netherlands, 150 to 200 children end up in intensive care every year.
