Le Bonheur Children’s Seeing Drastic Uptick in RSV Hospitalizations

Cold and flu season gets a lot of attention, but one aspect of is especially dangerous for babies younger than two years old; Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This virus attacks the lining of the airways and the lungs, leading to various symptoms that can make babies and those with compromised immune systems very sick.

Nick Hysmith, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and associate professor of Pediatric Infectious Disease at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, shares with parents and caregivers’ information about preventing and treating RSV, as well as how to prepare for RSV season.

RSV Dangers Among Young Children

If adults develop RSV, they typically don’t have many symptoms; most likely a head cold and all that goes with it (runny nose, cough, congestion). Even kids of school age tend to have milder symptoms, mimicking a cold. However, young kids’ respiratory airways are much smaller, so RSV can lead to difficulty breathing and sometimes hospitalization.

“The most hospital admissions and respiratory illness occurs in kids younger than two. We really see those hospitalizations go up in kids who are younger than one, as well as kids who have underlying medical conditions, such as chronic lung disease or any kind of congenital heart disease,” said Dr. Hysmith.

RSV Prevention and Treatment Options

Several RSV vaccines have been approved recently, including those that can be administered to children ages eight months and younger. Dr. Hysmith is hopeful these vaccines will dramatically reduce hospital admissions in the coming months. As more and more children become vaccinated, the theory is RSV will be less prevalent in the coming years.

Innovative treatment options are also in the works, one of which is being studied at Le Bonheur among children diagnosed with RSV. “The vaccines will prevent the hospitalizations and the acquisition of RSV, and once kids have RSV, we'll look to drugs like we're testing in the Enanta study that will actually help treat RSV in these smaller kids. We’re very excited about that study,” said Dr. Hysmith.

The Diagnostic and Treatment Process

Most of the RSV patients at Le Bonheur present first in the Emergency Department, similar to other hospitals across the country. They are evaluated for RSV with a quick test. If that test is positive, physicians do a risk assessment based on the child’s age.

If they are younger than two years of age, the likelihood is that they'll be admitted to the hospital for a few days, because RSV is often worse on the third day of illness. “We like to watch those kids who are younger than two just a bit longer. We evaluate breathing to make sure oxygen levels are what they should be,” explained Dr. Hysmith.

Based on that information, they may be admitted to the hospital. Or, if they are stable and it's later in the illness, many are able to be discharged home. “It's a viral illness we've dealt with for decades, so new ways of mitigating symptoms are constantly being developed,” he adds. “But the new vaccines are really going to hopefully prevent this from even being an issue.”

To learn more about RSV symptoms and treatments, consult your pediatrician or visit lebonheur.org/blog.

About Le Bonheur Children’s

Le Bonheur Children’s, based in Memphis, Tenn., provides expert care for children in more than 45 pediatric subspecialties, encompassing robust community programs, a pediatric research institute and regional outpatient centers in Jackson, Tenn., Tupelo, Miss., and Jonesboro, Ark. Le Bonheur also features a 255-bed hospital in Memphis and a 21-bed satellite hospital within Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tenn. As the primary pediatric teaching affiliate for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur trains more than 350 pediatricians and specialists each

year. Nationally recognized, Le Bonheur has been named a U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospital for 13 consecutive years and is a Magnet-designated facility, the ultimate credential for high-quality patient care and nursing excellence.

For more information, call 1-901-287-6030 or visit lebonheur.org. Connect with them at facebook.com/lebonheurchildrens, twitter.com/lebonheurchild or on Instagram at lebonheurchildrens.