RSV Overview

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes acute respiratory tract infections in people of all ages and can cause severe illness in infants and children with certain health conditions. Approximately 58,000-80,000 children under the age of 5 and up to 3% of children in their first year of life are hospitalized due to RSV infection each year in the US. Most children will get an RSV infection before the age of 2 years, and approximately 20-30% of children infected will develop a lower respiratory tract infection, such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia. RSV is transmitted by direct or close contact with those infected or from touching contaminated surfaces.

RSV also sensitizes the infant airways and it is not uncommon for some to develop asthma after having it.  Reinfection is common and is usually less severe than the primary infection.

We see RSV infecting our infants very frequently! There is no treatment, but Beyfortus can prevent infants from becoming ill with RSV.  Most infants do not have to be hospitalized, but it requires the burden of Inhalation Therapy at home with bronchodilators and steroids for many days and nights, and several follow up visits to the office.

Nirsevimab (Beyfortus)

Nirsevimab is a monoclonal antibody injected product which offers protection against RSV, and is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for all infants <8 months of age born during or entering their first RSV season (typically starting October 1 through March 31 in most of the continental US).

Great Kids Pediatrics will have Beyfortus available to our young, vulnerable patients. Please ask your doctor or nurse about it today!

For more information about RSV, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/infants-young-children/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html