Pediatricians share RSV warning as Nashville sees abnormally high spread of virus

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Pediatricians want parents to be on alert. the Respiratory syncytial virus usually appears in the fall, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued health advisory that RSV is now spreading to parts of the south.

The virus typically circulates October through March, but Nashville was hit early and hard this year, says Dr. James Antoon, assistant professor of pediatrics at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital in Vanderbilt.

“We usually see a case of RSV, maybe a handful [during July]. Now we are seeing several a day where we will have 10-20 in the hospital, ”said Dr Antoon.

This news is particularly concerning for Katie Wylie, mother of Ben and Jack, identical twins born at just 25 weeks and spent 130 days in the NICU.

“They were born at 1 pound 3 ounces and 1 pound 10 ounces. And when you’re that little and come so early, your lungs are really underdeveloped, ”explained Wylie.

The boys are now almost 4 years old, but respiratory disease protection is still on his radar. So imagine Wylie’s worry when she got a call from the boys’ school saying that Ben and Jack were sick.

“One of the main symptoms they had was a persistent fever that lasted for a week,” Wylie said.

Their symptoms progressed. A visit to the doctor confirmed that the boys had RSV. The good news is, they’re handling it well.

“I’m so thankful that they are handling it so well and it feels like a normal childhood illness and we don’t spend time in the hospital because it is a real threat to children with lungs like theirs. . “

For others who are not doing as well, Dr Antoon said: “It goes down to the lungs where it can cause things like pneumonia, bronchiolitis, which are correlated with dehydration, difficulty breathing. and respiratory distress. “

Simple hand hygiene, disinfecting surfaces, and keeping children home when they are sick can go a long way in stopping the spread of RSV.

“A simple illness like RSV can be an insignificant little cold for an adult of a very healthy child, but for a more vulnerable family or population, it is a very serious illness that could have life-shattering effects,” Wylie said.

Wylie appreciates those with a community spirit who take proactive steps to help protect vulnerable populations, like her boys.

If your child is wheezing or having difficulty breathing, don’t hesitate to call their pediatrician.