Wednesday, February 24, 2010

RSV

On Friday Tucker started coming down with a cold.  Then, on Monday it wasn't getting any better and Tuesday it was really starting to get worse.  I called our amazing friend "nurse deb"  as we affectionally call her to see if we should get Tucker to the doctor.  She suggested we should & I was thankfully able to get a 4:30 appointment.  We were there for an hour and a half and Tucker tested postive for RSV: below is a little about rsv.  We went home and did the medicated breathing ventilator three times and went in again this morning to the doctors office.  he is doing MUCH better, but still not feeling overall great.  We are supposed to stay away from children under the age of 13 until Monday.  We have another doctors appointment on Friday, but Lord willing I hope we won't need to go.  a few thoughts we've had in the last 24 hours:

1.)  So thankful God has given us a healthy baby.  Its so EASY to take for granted good health.  We are so thankful this is so minor compaired to the many other diseases, cancers & mental illnesses that are out there. 
2.) So thankful for good nurse friends
3.) The "snot sucker" (and all you parents out there should know what i'm talking about!) is a Godsend! 



Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus that leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can be more serious in young babies, especially to those in certain high-risk groups

Symptoms
Bluish skin color due to a lack of oxygen (cyanosis)
Breathing difficulty or labored breathing
Cough
Croupy cough (often described as a "seal bark" cough)
Fever
Nasal flaring
Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
Shortness of breath
Stuffy nose
Wheezing

Note: Symptoms vary and differ with age. Infants under age 1 are most severely affected and often have the most trouble breathing. Older children usually have only mild, cold-like symptoms. Symptoms usually appear 4 - 6 days after coming in contact with the virus.
Treatment

Antibiotics do not treat RSV. Mild infections go away without treatment. Infants and children with a severe RSV infection may be admitted to the hospital so they can receive oxygen, humidified air, and fluids by IV.
A breathing machine (ventilator) may be needed.
Causes
RSV is the most common germ that causes lung and airway infections in infants and young children. Most infants have had this infection by age 2. Outbreaks of RSV infections typically begin in the fall and run into the spring.

RSV is spread easily by physical contact. Touching, kissing, and shaking hands with an infected person can spread RSV. The disease spreads from person to person through contact with contaminated tiny droplets or objects that the droplets have touched.



2 comments:

monica said...

poor little tucker man!

praying for a speedy recovery!

Jensmuzic said...

I hope Tucker gets better soon! Thanks for posting what RSV is. My friend has a little boy that was also just diagnosed with this and she couldn't really explain it very well. So thanks for the explanation and I am praying for a fast Tucker recovery!

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