Influenza vs. โขRSV: Understanding RespiratoryIllnessesinChildren
Both influenza (the flu) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are common respiratory viruses, notably concerning forโฃ young โchildren. While initial symptoms can overlap, understanding the differences is crucial for appropriate care. Both viruses attack the respiratory tract,โ causing a range of illness severity.
According to the Worldโค Health Organization (WHO), RSV โขsymptoms typically develop between 4โ and 7 days โฃafter exposure. Common initial symptoms includeโ a runny nose, sore throat, headache, fatigue, and fever. Following an incubation period of approximately 4-5 days, infantsโฃ and young children may experience a runny or blocked nose, increased fussiness, andโ difficulty โfeeding.
Around two to three โคdays after these initial symptoms, roughly one-third of those โคinfected may โฃdevelop more severe โฃcomplications. These โinclude a severe cough,shortness of breath,and a โdistinctive wheezing sound when breathingโฃ – described as a โฃ”whimpling” sound by medical professionals listening with โa stethoscope.
Though, not โขall RSV infections โฃpresentโฃ with severe symptoms. As one โขexpert โexplained, “Ifโ you don’t have a cough, shortnessโข of breath,โค fever, wheezing,โ is it definitely not RSV? The answer is no.As โRSV canโ only have mild โฃsymptoms, so โฃthe child or baby has โa cough, just a normal cold or just โa mild fever.” โThis makes diagnosis challenging.
Influenza,while also causing respiratory symptoms,is generally easier and cheaper to diagnose. Antigenโ tests for influenza are readily available, costing around 200,000 to 300,000 rupiah and providingโ results within 15 minutes. RSV diagnosis typically โrequires a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test,โ which โis significantly more expensive, ranging from 1-3 โคmillion rupiah.
For young children, particularly those under two years old, symptoms like coughing, fever, and shortness of breath โคshouldโค prompt aโฃ visit to the pediatrician. Theโฃ presence of wheezing, detectable โwith a stethoscope, โisโ a strong indicator of RSV.
