RSV: When a virus put my 8-month-old in hospital
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, more commonly known as RSV , is often talked about as a mild childhood illness. Many people describe it as “just a cold” or something children get and recover from quickly. But for our family, RSV was anything but mild — and it became frighteningly serious, especially for our 8-month-old son. RSV is extremely contagious and spreads easily through coughs, sneezes, surfaces, and close contact. Entire households can become infected very quickly. That’s exactly what happened to us — our whole family caught RSV , and while adults and older children may cope, babies can become dangerously unwell in a very short space of time. RSV Is Not Just a Cough and Cold Many people associate RSV with breathing symptoms alone — coughing, wheezing, or a runny nose. While these are common, RSV can affect the whole body , particularly in babies. In our case, symptoms went far beyond the chest. RSV caused: Severe coughing Breathing difficulties Extreme tiredness Loss ...
