Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — When Amber Sizemore and her family went out of the state to celebrate her birthday last week, she hoped her young daughter, Raygan, would try a swim. But the normally energetic and adventurous 15-month-old was not herself on Saturday.
“She hated it,” Sizemore said. “She’s the one who usually loves water.”
By Sunday, when the family was headed to Ohio, the little girl was “coughing a lot”.
“I coughed so badly… that I vomited,” Sizemore said.
Raygan also stopped eating, and her temperature rose.
When Tylenol didn’t help, I called her into emergency care, and told them that RSV, a common cold-like virus, was circulating at the Reagan Day Care Center, where Sizemore also works.
The test result came back positive, and Sizemore was asked to take her daughter to the hospital.
Currently, the United States is experiencing an “unprecedented” rise in respiratory syncytial virus infections among children, some doctors told CNN.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Control (CDC) does not track hospitalizations or deaths from this virus, like the flu, but it noted Thursday that RSV cases have increased in many parts of the country.
Children’s hospital beds are more occupied over the past two years, according to federal data.
Who is most susceptible to infection with respiratory syncytial virus?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that most children will contract RSV sometime before the age of two.
It is a highly contagious virus that often does not cause serious illness, except in elderly adults, or those with chronic heart or lung disease, or a weakened immune system, and in some infants and children.
There is no specific treatment for respiratory syncytial virus and no vaccine. Symptoms usually last for a week or two and are relieved with plenty of fluids and rest.
For some children, it can be a more serious disease.
According to the agency, the respiratory syncytial virus can be especially dangerous to newborns, children with weakened immune systems or neuromuscular disorders, those under the age of two years, and those with chronic lung and heart diseases.
It can turn into bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
The child may need to stay in the hospital to be able to get extra oxygen.
How does this virus spread?
An infected person can transmit RSV through coughing or sneezing.
Overall, it’s such a mild illness that adults often don’t realize they have it, or think it’s nothing more than a cold or allergy, and keep interacting with others.
And if your child is coughing or drowsy, or if he doesn’t look like himself, it’s a good idea to take him to the pediatrician for a checkup.
Pediatricians say that a trip to the emergency department may be necessary if the child is dehydrated, has difficulty breathing, has a high temperature, or their skin turns blue.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Control says most patients improve in supportive care and can often go home after a few days.
How to prevent infection with respiratory syncytial virus?
Doctors say the best way to prevent RSV infection is to teach children to cough and sneeze into a tissue or into their elbows rather than their hands. Also, try to keep frequently touched surfaces clean.
And of course, it’s important to stay home when sick so you don’t spread any virus.