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Central Ohio doctors see rise in respiratory virus that can look similar to COVID-19

In infants, RSV can get much more severe than COVID-19.

Doctors around the world, including in Central Ohio, are starting to see an uptick in a respiratory virus, but it’s not COVID-19.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.

The CDC says more people recover from the virus in a week or two, but RSV can escalate into a more serious issue, especially for infants and older adults.

It did escalate for Shanisty Ireland, a New Albany mother of three, in 2017.

She thought her then, 5-week-old son, Adam was developing a cold.

“[He had] a runny nose. He had a slight fever. He had some cough and congestion, and then it started to get progressively worse,” she said. 

Adam eventually had to spend five days in the hospital. 

“It was the scariest five days of my life, hands down,” Ireland said.

“Watching my small child who was not even five months old yet fight for his life and struggling to breathe.” 

Adam luckily ended up recovering from his diagnosis, RSV. 

“It’s a respiratory virus that causes infection every single year in all children,” said Nationwide Children’s Doctor, Asuncion Mejias,  

“It’s the number one cause of hospitalization in infants.” 

Dr. Mejias said usually, RSV spikes in the winter, but her colleagues are seeing more cases this summer.  

At first, RSV symptoms are pretty similar to COVID-19.  

Both viruses start with a runny nose and fever.  

“Usually children with COVID, they resolve the disease,” Dr. Mejias said. 

“It’s self-limited, but not with RSV. It’s generally more severe than COVID in infants” 

Doctor Mejias said after a few days with RSV, babies won’t want to eat. They will start breathing fast, and their general appearance will get worse.  

When parents do see those signs she said, “they really really need to seek medical attention. It’s better to have another set of eyes evaluating these children than waiting longer."

Doctor Mejias said parents can protect their babies from RSV by not letting other people kiss, hug or touch them when they are less than six months old. 

She also advises practicing good hand hygiene.  

 

 

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