During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the usual winter colds and flus all but disappeared as people masked up and kept their distance.
Now, with children back in school, most pandemic restrictions lifted and in-person gatherings again becoming the norm, respiratory ailments are starting to make a comeback.
Among the germs making the seasonal rounds is the respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV. Cases are increasing nationwide and rising in Oregon.
While the virus is getting a lot of media attention, RSV is common and mild for most children and adults. Its symptoms are the same as the common cold – runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever and loss of appetite.
“By their second birthday, most children have had RSV,” Samaritan Lincoln City Medical Center pediatrician Dr. Caitlyn Anglin said. “If you have a sick child at home, it is good to monitor their symptoms because sometimes RSV can cause severe disease in children under 2 years old – especially infants under 6 months old. It can also cause severe disease in older adults.”
The same precautionary measures for COVID-19 are also effective for preventing other respiratory illnesses like RSV and the flu.
There is no RSV vaccine, but there are tried-and-true ways to reduce your chances of catching or spreading the virus:
— Stay home when sick.
— Avoid contact with people who are sick.
— Wash hands regularly for at least 20 seconds.
— Keep hands away from faces.
— Clean and disinfect oftentouched surfaces, such as doorknobs and electronic devices. n Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings.
People at high risk include:
— Young children, in particular children under 2.
— Children with underlying medical conditions.
— People of all ages with weakened immune systems.
— Adults 65 and older, especially those with chronic heart or lung disease.