Respiratory Syncytial Virus

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

Risks

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

What to Expect While You're There

• Taking Vital Signs: These include your child's temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting heartbeats), and respirations (counting breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to your child's heart and lungs. Blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around your child's arm.
• Blood Gases: This test measures the amount of oxygen, acids, and carbon dioxide in the blood---measurements that are especially important when the child has difficulty breathing. The blood sample for the test is taken from an artery in the child's wrist, elbow, or groin.
• Other Blood Tests: The doctor may also need measurements in blood drawn from a vein. The sample will be taken from a vein in the hand or the bend in the elbow.
• Chest X-ray: This picture allows the doctor to examine the infected lungs for signs of progress---or worsening problems.
• Heart Monitor: (Also called an electrocardiogram [e-LEK-tro-KAR-di-o-gram] or EKG.) To check the child's heart, nurses will position 3 to 5 sticky pads on different parts of the body. The pads are connected to a TV-like screen or a small portable box (telemetry unit) that shows a tracing of each heartbeat.
• Pulse Oximeter (oks-IH-mih-ter): A clip placed on the child's ear, finger, or toe will be connected to a machine that measures the oxygen level in the blood.
• Oxygen: If extra oxygen is needed, the child may be placed in a clear plastic mist tent or a high humidity room to help ease breathing. Check with your doctor before removing the oxygen supply. Without it, the child may suffer a shortage of oxygen.
• Breathing Treatments: These treatments help open the airways. They may include a machine that delivers medicated air to the lungs. The treatments will probably be given frequently at first. Then, as the child gets better, they'll be needed only when the child has trouble breathing.
• Postural Drainage: This treatment, also called PD, improves the child's breathing by loosening the sputum in the lungs so that it's easier to cough up. A nurse will lightly thump the child's back and chest with her hands or a specially designed machine.
• Isolation: Your child will be put in a private room to keep the virus from spreading. Everyone entering the room may be required to wear gloves, a face mask, or a gown. To keep from passing along the infection, be sure to wash your hands after you remove your gloves when leaving.
• IV: A tube placed in your child's vein for giving medicine or liquids. The IV will be capped or connected to tubing and liquid.
• Intake and Output: The doctor may need to know how much liquid your child is getting and how much he or she is urinating. This is often called "I&O."
• When the doctor says it's OK, encourage the child to drink as much water as the doctor allows. If the child is on I&O, keep a record of the amount the child drinks
• Ask your doctor if it's OK to flush the child's urine down the toilet, and whether you should save the diapers.
• Medicines:
• Antiviral Medicine: A drug to combat the virus may be given through a small machine that turns it into a mist for inhalation. The mist can be delivered through a mask or hood, or sprayed into an oxygen tent.
• Bronchodilators (BRON-ko-DI-la-tors): These drugs help open the swollen airways in the lungs, allowing the child to breathe easier and get more oxygen into his lungs.
• Fever Medicine: Doctors often prescribe medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help reduce fever. The drug may be given by mouth or as a suppository in the child's rectum. Bringing down the fever should help your child feel better.

After You Leave

• Always give the child medicine exactly as directed. If it doesn't seem to help, call the doctor, but do not quit using it until the doctor approves.
• If the child is under 18, do not give aspirin or any product that contains it. Giving aspirin to a child with a viral infection such as RSV can cause a very serious nerve disorder called Reye's syndrome. It's OK to give the child acetaminophen. Ask your doctor before giving ibuprofen.
• To loosen the mucus in the child's airways and make it easier to breath, use a cool mist humidifier in the sickroom. Fill it with cool water and put it out of reach by the bed. Direct the mist stream towards the child's face.
• To keep your child's nose mucus-free:
• • Use a soft rubber suction bulb to remove the mucus. Squeeze the bulb and gently put the tip into one nostril. Close the other nostril with your fingers. Release the bulb so that it sucks up the mucus. Empty the suction bulb into a tissue. Repeat in each nostril as needed.
  • You may want to make saline (saltwater) nose drops to loosen the mucus. In a clean jar, mix salt (your doctor will tell you how much) with 4 ounces (half a cup) of warm tap water. With a clean eyedropper, or by squeezing a wet cotton ball, place 3 drops in each nostril. After 1 minute, remove the nose drops and mucus with a soft rubber suction bulb.
• Try to get the child to drink water, apple juice, lemonade, tea, or ginger-ale. The liquids should be room temperature. Youngsters also enjoy frozen popsicles.
• The child may need more rest than usual, and may need more frequent feedings if he tires while being fed. If the child is breast or bottle fed, first clear the nose of mucus to make breathing easier during the feeding. You should also do this before putting the child to sleep.
• Do not let anyone smoke around the child. Smoke can make breathing more difficult and worsen a cough.

Call Your Doctor If...

• The child is sleepier than usual, urinates less, or has a dry mouth and cracked lips. Also call if the child seems dizzy or cries without tears. These are signs of dehydration.
• The child won't drink fluids.
• The child is running a high temperature.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• Call 911 or 0 (operator) for help if your child has any of the following signs:
• Trouble breathing.
• Trouble swallowing.
• The middle of chest is sinking in with each breath.
• The skin between the ribs is being sucked in with each breath.
• The lips or fingernails are turning blue or white.