Healthcare specialists speaking at a recent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) awareness meeting in Jeddah have shared practical advice for parents of young infants on recognizing its symptoms and reducing exposure as the season gets underway.
The meeting brought together Dr Ashraf Amir, Consultant in Family Medicine and Chief Medical Officer at the International Medical Center (IMC), and Dr Muawiyah Qasem, Consultant Pediatrician and Chairperson of the Children’s Health Centre at IMC, who discussed the symptoms parents should look out for, practical prevention measures and the role of immunization.
RSV is a common respiratory virus, which often causes cold-like symptoms, but in some infants, it can progress to bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Babies under 6 months are among those more likely to develop more serious illness.
Dr Ashraf Amir said: “More serious RSV illness is not limited to premature or high-risk babies. Healthy, full-term infants can also be affected, so parents should know which symptoms warrant medical attention and seek advice if their baby’s condition changes.”
Parents should pay particular attention to difficulty breathing, reduced fluid intake or symptoms that continue to worsen. Because RSV can resemble other respiratory infections, knowing the symptoms is important. In Saudi Arabia, the RSV season runs from October through to March, making these months an important time for families to understand the virus and consider appropriate prevention.
Dr Muawiyah Qasem highlighted the importance of parents being aware of prevention options, saying: “There are many practical steps parents can take at home to reduce RSV exposure risk, but there are also other prevention options. Parents should have a conversation with their healthcare provider and ask whether RSV immunization is recommended for their baby based on the child’s age.”
It was highlighted that practical measures can help reduce exposure and help keep infants in the Kingdom protected during the RSV season. Measures include regular handwashing, good respiratory etiquette, limiting close contact with people who are unwell, cleaning frequently touched surfaces and keeping infants away from second-hand tobacco smoke.
During the discussion, the doctors referred to the recently updated Saudi National Immunization Schedule for Children. They noted that its RSV immunization recommendations cover all infants born during the RSV season between October and March, as well as all infants who are younger than 8 months at the start of the season. For infants aged 8 to 19 months at the start of their second RSV season, there are specific recommendations for those who remain at increased risk of severe RSV disease.
Source: Riyadh Daily