RSV Surge Prompts Vaccination Urgency in north Rhine-Westphalia as Expert Details Severe Symptoms in Children
dortmund, Germany – A surge in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases is prompting urgent calls for vaccination, particularly for infants, in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Experts warn the virus is causing notable respiratory distress in young children, wiht some requiring hospitalization for up to ten days.
Experienced pediatrician from Dortmund, Prof. Dr. Tailor, described the severity of the current situation, stating, “The children can’t drink, of course the children also have a fever and a cough and itS a really miserable, wheezing, wheezing cough that the children have. The children have severe shortness of breath.”
RSV symptoms can range from mild, cold-like symptoms to severe illness requiring ventilation. Common signs include:
* Cold-like symptoms such as cough, runny nose and mild fever
* Lower respiratory tract infections like bronchiolitis or pneumonia (in severe cases)
* Wheezing, shortness of breath and persistent cough
“So that’s really bad and it also makes the children’s respiratory tract sensitive to further infections,” Prof. Dr. Tailor explained, strongly recommending vaccination quickly. he emphasized the vaccine’s protection is limited to the first winter season, but is crucial for vulnerable infants. ”This is a vaccination that only provides protection for children in the first winter season, but small children in the first months of life and in the first year of life are particularly at risk of becoming seriously ill with RSV and the children are then sometimes in the clinic for up to ten days and are really gasping for air.” He concluded, “This is a stupid infection that makes the children really sick.”
While RSV poses a significant threat to infants, expert Schneider notes that older children and adults typically experience milder symptoms. “You actually have to deal with this almost every year,” Schneider said.”These are viruses that keep coming back and are always part of every winter.”
However, preventative measures remain vital for all age groups. Experts recommend basic hygiene practices such as regular and thorough hand washing, disinfecting surfaces, and avoiding contact with sick individuals.
In addition to infant vaccination, Prof. Dr. Tailor highlighted the option for pregnant women to receive the RSV vaccine before birth, allowing antibodies to be passed to the newborn via the placenta, offering comparable protection.
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