What is the RS virus?
The RS virus is the most common common cold virus in children. Almost all children contract it in their first year. Especially in winter – so between November and March – the virus is circulating.
If there are 21 or more reports of infections for two weeks in a row, you call that an epidemic.
Is the virus dangerous?
The RS virus is harmless to most children. The symptoms usually go away on their own within a week.
Some children do have a lot of trouble with it. For example, children who were born prematurely or have poor health.
Babies and toddlers in particular can become very short of breath. They can get pneumonia, dehydrate and end up in the hospital.
The virus can also be dangerous for elderly people with poor health.
Can it kill you?
Every year in poorer countries, a total of about 118,000 babies and toddlers die from the RS virus. In the Netherlands, deaths from the virus almost never occur. That’s because the care here is good.
Children are given extra oxygen in the hospital. After that, they usually recover quickly. There is no medicine. A vaccine for all children is still being worked on.
How can you get infected?
The RS virus spreads through coughing and sneezing. This releases very small droplets with the virus into the air. Other people can breathe it in and become infected.
The drops can also get into the eyes or mouth through the hands.
What are the complaints?
Sometimes the complaints are worse:
- tightness
- a fever
- pneumonia
- ear infection
What can you do as a parent?
Keep a close eye on young children (especially babies) if they have a cold. are you worried? Call the doctor.
Use paper tissues when coughing and sneezing. Also wash your hands more often.
Bel de huisarts als je kind:
- benauwd wordt,
- suf wordt,
- jonger dan drie maanden is en koorts heeft,
- jonger dan een jaar is en niet goed drinkt.
Can you get the virus again?
Yes. If you have had the virus, you can (despite your antibodies) get it again. Even when you’re an adult. Then the virus usually leads to a common cold.
Is there a vaccine?
No, there is no vaccine yet. Sometimes babies born prematurely do get an injection with antibodies.
Research is being done into an RS shot. Researchers hope that the vaccine will be ready in a few years.
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