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FAIRMONT-- It's cold and flu season but another well-known virus is circulating as well. Medical professionals are currently seeing many cases of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).
Dr. Tim Slama, a family medicine doctor at Mayo Clinic Heath System in Fairmont, said they're seeing higher rates of RSV this year, and earlier.
Slama said RSV is a common virus that causes inflammation of the small airways. He said it's very common in younger children and that's where they see more severe infections, but anybody can be infected with it. However, he said older patients typically have symptoms similar to that of a cold.
"In anybody younger than 2, the airways get swollen and filled with fluid and it makes it harder for younger kids to breathe," Slama explained.
Slama said that by age 3, almost everyone has been exposed to it. He said re-infection is possible, though it's typically not as severe.
"Everybody will get it at some point, it's just how severe is it going to be. For 0-2 year old, that's when we really watch for it because it can lead to hospitalizations," Slama explained.
He said RSV is actually the leading cause of hospitalization in infants and young children.
Slama said they always see outbreaks of RSV in the winter months, from October to April, and that it usually peaks in December. He stressed that they see cases of RSV this time every year.
"It's very common but I think we're hearing about it more because we're having higher rates and earlier than usual," Slama said.
He said it could be worse this year because, coming out of Covid, a lot of the young children haven't been exposed to it and it's hitting them all at once now with the absence of masks.
"Now we have so many more kids who should have got it in 2020 or 2021 but didn't because they were more protected. They weren't in school or their siblings weren't in school and now everyone is getting it at once," Slama said.
Unlike the cold and flu, there are no vaccines for it. There are also no antibiotics that can be taken for RSV.
As for preventing RSV, Slama recommended people follow the basics of hand washing, staying home when sick and covering their cough. He also suggested people make sure to stay hydrated and get enough rest so that their bodies are prepared and healthy enough to fight off infection if exposed.
For those with RSV, Slama said it causes a lot of mucus build up so they recommend bulb suctioning and using saline nose drops. He said treating the fever is also important.
"From a clinic standpoint, we check the oxygen saturation. That's the big indicator. The only real treatment for it is do you need oxygen or not. That's what puts kids in the hospital is if they need supplemental oxygen," Slama said.