NRW already has the cold season firmly under control. But now another RSV wave is rolling in. Experts recommend vaccinations to prevent severe disease.
Hamm – Coughs and runny noses on every corner, a rattle here and there, someone is constantly blowing their nose – the cold season has North Rhine-Westphalia firmly in its grip. Almost everyone probably knows someone close to them who suffers from an illness in the winter months. The respiratory syncytial virus – better known as RSV – is particularly nasty for children.
The worldwide pathogen causing acute respiratory diseases occurs particularly in the winter months between October and March. The RSV wave could really gain momentum at the end of November and beginning of December. “At the moment it is even less bad than in previous years in November. But now the phase is coming again in which we will be in locked rooms more – the infections will now increase significantly,” says Prof. Dr. Dominik Schneider, director of the Dortmund Children’s Clinic, in conversation with wa.de.
RSV wave approaching – pediatricians warn
The highly contagious virus can affect people of all ages, although almost all children by the age of two have already had an RSV infection. While many of those affected only experience mild, cold-like symptoms, certain risk groups can become seriously ill: infants up to six months old, premature babies, children with underlying illnesses and adults aged 75 and over or older adults with previous illnesses have an increased risk of severe disease.
One thing gives hope. “I now have the impression,” says Prof. Dr. Schneider, “that this year will be more of a late RSV season.” He says: “Of course, that now gives us a lot of time to vaccinate the small infants.” RSV is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions due to respiratory infections. Symptoms such as coughing and wheezing can last for several weeks after an RSV infection.
“The children can’t drink, of course the children also have a fever and a cough and it’s a really miserable, wheezing, wheezing cough that the children have. The children have severe shortness of breath,” explains the experienced pediatrician from Dortmund. The symptoms of an RSV infection can vary greatly and range from completely asymptomatic courses to severe illnesses requiring ventilation. Typical signs are:
- Cold-like symptoms such as cough, runny nose and mild fever
- Infections of the lower respiratory tract such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia (if severe)
- wheezing, shortness of breath and persistent cough
“So that’s really bad and it also makes the children’s respiratory tract sensitive to further infections,” says Prof. Dr. Tailor. He therefore urgently recommends vaccination. The sooner the better. “This is a vaccination that only provides protection for children in the first winter season, but small children in the first months of life and in the first year of life are particularly at risk of becoming seriously ill with RSV and the children are then sometimes in the clinic for up to ten days and are really gasping for air,” he says and becomes clear: “This is a stupid infection that makes the children really sick.”
Adults hardly have any problems with an RSV infection
Older children and adults, on the other hand, don’t really have to be afraid of RSV. “You actually have to deal with this almost every year,” says expert Schneider. “These are viruses that keep coming back and are always part of every winter,” he said. Nevertheless, you can and should of course protect yourself from infection.
Various prevention measures are available to protect against RSV infections. Basic hygiene measures are particularly important as the virus is transmitted both through droplet infection and via contaminated surfaces. Regular and thorough hand washing, disinfecting toys and bottles and avoiding contact with sick people are therefore key protective measures. And of course the aforementioned vaccination for infants. “There is also the option for pregnant women to be vaccinated before birth and then pass the antibody on to the newborn via the placenta. That is comparably good,” adds Prof. Dr. Tailor.
