Friday, February 1, 2013

SAVE A BABYS LIFE...HOW TO HELP PREVENT RSV

I was lucky that when I had Jacey this past September she was full term. Although she was still at risk for RSV ( any baby can get it), having a preemie baby increases the risk of contracting RSV, a life threatening illness'.




 Young infants are very susceptible to infection in the early weeks of their lives, so contracting something as small as the common cold can present danger. This is especially true for babies born early, because they have underdeveloped lungs and immature immune systems.

 Did you know that 79 percent of preemie moms have a baby who was hospitalized due to a severe respiratory infection? One virus in particular that parents of preemies should know about is respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV.

• RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, and severe RSV disease causes up to 10 times as many infant deaths each year as the flu.

 • RSV is most prevalent during the winter months. The CDC has defined the “RSV season” as beginning in November and lasting through March for most parts of North America.

 • In addition to prematurity, common risk factors include low birth weight, certain lung or heart diseases, a family history of asthma and frequent contact with other children. Prevention is Key RSV is very contagious and can be spread easily through touching, sneezing and coughing. Since there’s no treatment for RSV, parents should take the following preventive steps to help protect their child:

 • Wash hands, toys, bedding, and play areas frequently

 • Ensure you, your family, and any visitors in your home wash their hands or use hand sanitizer

 • Avoid large crowds and people who are or have been sick

• Never let anyone smoke near your baby

• Speak with your child’s doctor if he or she may be at high risk for RSV, as a preventive therapy may be available Know the Symptoms Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:

 • Severe coughing, wheezing or rapid gasping breaths
 • Blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails
 • High fever and extreme fatigue


 I have become very educated on RSV and have taken many steps to try and prevent my daughter from contracting it. I had a friend who's son had to be hospitalized and almost died because he contracted RSV. It's very scary and really the simple steps above can help greatly reduce the risk of your baby or baby you are visiting contracting RSV.

Please take a moment to visit RSVProtection.com to learn more about RSV!  Education is the KEY!


 "I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation."

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