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Views: 1511 Author: BioTeke Corporation Publish Time: 2025-09-23 Origin: Bioteke, People's Daily Health, China CDC
2025-09-23
"I thought my child just had a common cold, but he ended up in the intensive care unit." Recently, many parents have shared on social media their experiences of their children experiencing moderate to severe symptoms after being infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
A reporter from the People's Daily Health app noted that according to the "National Acute Respiratory Infectious Diseases Sentinel Surveillance Report" released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, RSV has been the leading cause of hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases in southern provinces for 10 consecutive weeks since the 28th week of 2025. (News - People's Daily Health)
"Respiratory syncytial virus has a certain epidemic period. The peak epidemic in northern my country is in winter and spring, generally from October to November to March and April of the following year. The southern region shows the characteristics of year-round epidemic, with the peak in winter or the wet rainy season, and low-level epidemic at other times." On September 22, Zhao Wei, a professor at the School of Public Health of Southern Medical University, told a reporter from the People's Daily Health Client that my country's southern provinces are located in the subtropical region and there is no obvious boundary between winter and spring. Respiratory syncytial virus infection can occur throughout the year. The recent entry into the wet rainy season is more conducive to the spread of respiratory syncytial virus.
Data from the past 10 weeks shows that even in southern provinces, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is not the leading cause of influenza-like illness (ILI) in outpatient and emergency department visits. Why are there so few ILI cases in outpatient and emergency department visits, while there are so many hospitalizations for severe acute respiratory infections (SARS)?
Zhao Wei explained this phenomenon, "RSV primarily infects infants and young children. In the early stages of infection, symptoms include upper respiratory tract symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, and runny nose. As the disease progresses, infants and young children are prone to developing lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia, with symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, groaning, hypoxemia, and labored breathing, necessitating hospitalization."
It is worth noting that there is currently no specific treatment for RSV in China. "Symptomatic supportive care is generally the mainstay; there is no RSV vaccine available. However, for newborns and infants about to enter or born during their first RSV season, especially premature infants and those with chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, or immunocompromised infants, long-acting monoclonal antibodies can be administered to prevent the possibility of severe illness," Zhao Wei warned.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common pathogen that causes acute respiratory infections. It is more likely to cause severe symptoms, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, in infants, young children, and the elderly. However, most infections result in mild symptoms, similar to the common cold.
RSV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family. Its virus particles are spherical or filamentous and are surrounded by an envelope. Embedded within this envelope are two key glycoproteins—fusion protein F and adhesion protein G—that facilitate viral infiltration of the human respiratory tract. (China CDC)
What are the clinical symptoms of RSV infection in children?
1. Infants and young children (under 2 years old)
Infants under 6 months old, especially, often develop bronchiolitis or pneumonia due to RSV infection.
Initial symptoms: Fever, nasal congestion, and runny nose, typically lasting 2-4 days.
Subsequent symptoms: Cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Other symptoms: May include labored breathing and difficulty feeding.
2. Older children (over 2 years old)
Most symptoms present as upper respiratory tract infections, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, and hoarseness. Some may also develop fever.
Lower respiratory tract infections, such as tracheitis, bronchitis, and even pneumonia, may also develop.
Generally, the severity of RSV infection is related to the site of infection and the presence of underlying medical conditions. The presence of any of the following symptoms suggests a possible serious infection:
Poor mental status or lethargy in the child.
Difficulty feeding or refusal to eat.
Rapid breathing, flaring of the nose, or bluish lips or nails (cyanosis).
Tachycardia.
Inspiratory retraction of the chest wall (indentation of the chest).
Symptoms of dehydration, such as dry skin and decreased urination.
How does RSV infection differ from the common cold and other viral infections?
Similarities
Early symptoms of RSV infection are similar to those of other common respiratory viral infections, such as cough, nasal congestion, and runny nose, making it difficult to distinguish based on symptoms alone.
Uniqueness
In infants and children under two years old, RSV infection is more likely to cause coughing, wheezing, or severe illness, especially in children with underlying medical conditions.
Confirmation
A definitive diagnosis requires nucleic acid or antigen testing.
RSV is contagious, especially in crowded places and homes. Infected individuals are typically most contagious 7-10 days after the onset of symptoms. While there is no mandatory quarantine requirement for patients, it is recommended that they rest at home and avoid crowded places.
Daily Protective Measures
Prevention can be achieved through proper mask wearing, frequent hand washing, and avoiding close contact.
If children are infected with RSV, don't be overly anxious. Careful care can be provided by following these steps:
1. Maintain a clear airway: Gently clear your child's nose with a damp cloth or cotton swab. For children with excessive phlegm, gently pat their back and encourage them to cough to help clear the phlegm.
2. Feeding and hydration: Feed your child in small, frequent doses to avoid overfeeding. Provide easily digestible foods. Ensure your child drinks plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and thick phlegm caused by a rapid respiratory rate.
3. Observe for changes in the child's condition: Watch for breathing difficulties (such as shortness of breath, noticeable chest heaving), lethargy, or irritability. If any abnormalities are detected, seek medical attention promptly.
4. Regular follow-up visits: Follow your child's doctor's recommendations for regular follow-up visits to ensure a smooth recovery.
5. Blood oxygen monitoring: If your child has chronic lung or cardiopulmonary disease, a pulse oximeter can be used to monitor blood oxygen saturation to detect changes in the condition early.
Understanding and being aware of the symptoms of RSV infection is the first step in protecting children's health.
Parents should monitor their child's respiratory and mental state, and seek medical attention as soon as necessary. Scientific prevention, diagnosis and timely treatment can effectively reduce the threat of RSV to children's health.
[Reference]
2. China CDC.
