Experts suggested a continued emphasis on handwashing and basic hygiene measures and other protective measures such as breastfeeding when possible; testing to confirm RSV when required; planning by pediatric ICUs to manage increases in severe RSV cases.

As the world is currently experiencing a steep fall in the daily coronavirus cases, many states have already started the unlock down process. However, experts have warned that with the onset of these ease in restricts around the globe, there can be a resurgence of a childhood respiratory virus. According to the reports, cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have risen sharply in Australia and, more recently, in the US as pandemic public health measures have been relaxed.

Respiratory Viruses Everything You Need To Know

Respiratory viruses affect the lower respiratory tract and can cause serious illness and death. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, about 2.7 million children worldwide were infected with RSV each year, and it was the fourth most common cause of death in young children. “The off-season resurgence in seasonal respiratory viruses now potentially poses a threat to vulnerable infants,” said Dr. Pascal Lavoie, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Canada, like other countries, has seen very few cases of RSV, with only 239 positive cases between August 29, 2020, and May 8, 2021, compared with 18,860 positive tests in a similar period the previous year (between August 25, 2019, and May 2, 2020). The virus seemed to disappear over the last year. However, an increased number of cases of RSV in Canada this summer, as in other jurisdictions, could stretch healthcare resources in pediatric intensive care units (ICUs). Most pregnant women and very young infants did not develop immunity in the previous season, so children may develop more severe illnesses this year.

What Is To Be Done Right Now?

The researchers in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggested a continued emphasis on handwashing and basic hygiene measures and other protective measures such as breastfeeding when possible; testing to confirm RSV when required; planning by pediatric ICUs to manage increases in severe RSV cases and administering preventive treatment to highest-risk infants if cases increase.

While the levels of influenza and other non-Covid respiratory viruses were at historic lows during most of 2020 in the US, the virus causing the common cold is having an out-of-season resurgence in 2021, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the experts, the protective measures people took against Covid-19 — masking, distancing — suppressed the virus. “Clinicians should be aware that respiratory viruses might not exhibit typical seasonal circulation patterns and that a resumption of circulation of certain respiratory viruses is occurring,” the CDC report said.

This post first appeared on The Health Site

You May Also Like

Testicular cancer: Lumps, enlargement, pain, heaviness or change in appearance are signs

Testicular cancer tends to mostly affect men between the ages of 15 and 49.…

Less Sleep Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk in Women

A recent study has found that “Less Sleep Linked to Increased Diabetes…

Where was my AstraZeneca vaccine made

Where was my AstraZeneca vaccine made? The AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine has been offered to millions of…

Ontario reports under 600 new COVID-19 cases, 7 more deaths

Of the 591 new cases recorded, 293 were unvaccinated people, 14 were partially vaccinated, 237 were fully vaccinated and for 47 people the vaccination status was unknown.