Palivizumab Immunization Recommendedโ for Premature Infants to Combat RSV
Jakarta,โฃ Indonesia – โNovember 25, 2023 – โThe Indonesian โPediatrician Association (IDAI) is recommending Palivizumab immunization to prevent severe respiratoryโฃ illness caused byโ Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in premature babies, โคwith implementation planned for 2025. RSV, a common respiratoryโ virus often mistaken โขfor a cold or flu, poses a significant threat to infants underโฃ two years of age, especially those born prematurely.
RSV โขenters theโข body through the respiratory tract and can โขlead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Symptoms include runny nose, cough, sneezing, and loss of โappetite. In high-riskโฃ infants – including those under two months old born prematurely, children withโฃ chronic lungโ disorders like โbronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease,โข cancer, or neuromuscular disorders – RSV โinfection can rapidly become severe, causing significant breathing difficulties and potentially requiring โฃintensive care.
“There is no need โfor an immune response, that is the advantage ofโ giving Palivizumab, this is passive immunization,” explained Cissy, as quoted โTuesday.
Palivizumab is administered via โคintramuscular injection at a dose โof 15โฃ milligrams per kilogram ofโ body weight andโ provides protection for 30 days. It is โคindeed recommended โคtoโ beโ given โone month beforeโข the RSV season, typically from the end of the โคyear to the middle of theโ following year.
Currently, Palivizumab is primarily used for premature babies but remains โฃexpensive and not widely โฃavailable.A new RSV vaccine โfor pregnant women, designed to createโค maternal antibodies that transfer to โthe baby, offers another potential preventative measure, providing protection for upโ to six months after birth.
alongside immunization, preventative measures such as regular handwashing, mask-wearing, avoiding face-touching, maintaining cleanโ environments,โฃ avoiding smoking near children, and โensuring adequate fluid and food โคintake when sick are crucial in mitigating theโ spread of RSV. (Ant/Z-1)
