11/08/2022
Word of wisdom from a pediatrician:
Caregivers with little ones less than 2 years old! 👋 Have you heard of RSV? It stands for respiratory syncytial virus, and it’s a VERY common cause of bronchiolitis in this age group. 👶
Bronchiolitis is basically inflammation of the airways caused by a virus, much like the common cold. It causes COUGH, CONGESTION, and FEVER in your little ones less than 2, especially throughout the winter months. ❄️ Mucus runs plentiful and noses get super plugged up. You may hear noisy breathing and feel “rattling” in the chest. Kids can have mucus-filled spit-ups and loose stools as well.
Your little one may feel pretty miserable, but the cause is viral – antibiotics will NOT help. 😞 Steroids, albuterol, and breathing treatments are not typically helpful either. The immune system has to do all of the work. So what CAN you do to ease the symptoms!?
Use nasal saline drops or spray from your local drug store to break up the mucus, then suction your baby’s nostrils one at a time. 👃 If using a suction bulb: First squeeze the bulb flat, then gently place into one nostril (while plugging the opposite nostril) and release the bulb to suck out the gunk. Don’t force the bulb too deep. I’d recommend suctioning at least every 2-4 hours, especially prior to feeding or sleeping – it will help them breathe much easier. For even better suction action, consider buying a NoseFrida!
Try putting a cool-mist humidifier near the crib to help with cough and congestion. 💨 Make sure to clean it out frequently to keep the machine germ-free. Do NOT give cough medicine to children less than 6 years old – they are not approved for children this young. Plus, the cough is what prevents mucus from seeping deep down into the lungs!
If your baby is having RESPIRATORY DISTRESS (flaring nostrils, bobbing of the head, sucking in between the ribs with each breath, turning blue, or breathing really fast), you need to get them to a pediatric emergency room. 🏥
Treat fevers if your baby is uncomfortable. 🔥 Remember that a fever of 100.4F and above in a baby less than 3 months needs to be evaluated by a medical provider. However, beyond that age, fever is NOT the enemy – dehydration and respiratory distress are the enemies. Fever is simply the body’s natural way of ramping up the immune system. With that being said, it is worth a visit to the doctor's office for persistent fevers lasting longer than 4 days.
Speaking of dehydration, encourage plenty of fluids such as breast milk, formula, and Pedialyte – fluids are WAY more important than solid foods during times of illness. 🍼 Kids may go several days without eating solid food, and that’s actually okay as long as they’re staying hydrated. A great indicator of hydration status is urine output. If they can't drink enough fluid to urinate at least 3 times per day, they need to be brought in.
You can prevent the spread of RSV and other viral infections with frequent hand-washing and avoiding sick friends and family. Try to steer clear of super crowded places and cigarette smoke. 🚭
Take-home message: When your baby is so congested that he or she can hardly eat or sleep, save yourself a trip to the ER by keeping these at-home tips in mind!
