The leading cause of hospital visits among kids is Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Here’s what you need to know

It’s around a lot in the wintertime and most children will have had Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) by the age of two, being exposed to it at nursery and social events. So this is a very common virus which is often just a normal part of being a little person. While it’s not fun at all, kids usually bounce back from it quite quickly.

But it can be more serious.

RSV turns out to be the leading cause of hospitalisations amongst babies and toddlers in the UK, with around 20,000 hospital stays a year in children under the age of 12 months. Tragically, RSV is responsible for 20-30 infant deaths every year. So, this is why you need to take RSV seriously.

Babies under the age of 6 months old and young children who were born prematurely are the most at risk of the more severe effects of RSV infections, as their immune systems are still developing. And luckily, with proper nutritional support for their immunity, you can navigate this virus without unnecessary fear.

Tackling a virus at the first sign of an infection is always important to lessen the impact of it on a little body. If you’re worried your child’s symptoms are worse than a typical cold, seeking immediate medical care is essential.

In this blog, you will learn how to spot signs of the RSV virus and some ways to nip things in the bud to prevent a hospital visit. Read on to find out what RSV looks like, how to tell if an infection is becoming more serious, and get some natural ways to ease the symptoms of RSV.

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How to spot an RSV infection

RSV is a viral infection which mainly colonises the nose, throat, and lungs. While RSV infections usually begin in the same manner as a common cold, with a runny nose, cough and sneezing, the infection could spread to the lungs and lead to serious complications. One of these is bronchiolitis, which inflames the smallest and most delicate airways in the lungs.

Symptoms of an RSV infection usually start within a few days of being exposed to the virus. For most people, RSV goes away without getting any worse than common cold symptoms including:

A runny or blocked nose
A cough
Sneezing
Tiredness
A high temperature – signs include your back or chest feeling hotter than usual, sweatiness and shivering (chills)
Babies with RSV may also be irritable and feed less than usual.

If RSV leads to a more serious infection, such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis, it may also cause:

A cough that gets worse
Shortness of breath
Faster breathing or long gaps between breaths
Difficulty feeding (in babies) or loss of appetite
Noisy breathing (wheezing)

Signs that a child might be seriously ill include:

Lethargy
Breathing hard or fast
Flaring nostrils
Grunting
Head bobbing
Sucking in around the collarbones or ribs

If you see these symptoms, don’t hesitate to get proper medical help. Thankfully, children hospitalised with RSV typically recover within two to three days.

How to prevent and manage RSV

RSV can be spread through direct and indirect contact. This means coughs and sneezes from an infected person, as well as any surfaces they may have contaminated can spread RSV.

Keeping surfaces (including toys) clean by regularly wiping them down can help to stop the spread of RSV. It’s advisable to keep new-born babies away from anyone with a cold or the flu, especially if the child was born prematurely or has serious health conditions.

Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean – use disposable tissues and throw them away as soon as you’ve used them. Also wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water.

Nutritional ways to ease RSV

Good nutrition is vital for a healthy, well-functioning immune system at all ages. To make sure you child’s immune system has all the support it needs, you may wish to check that their diet includes enough of these nutrients. And if you can’t get them to eat enough of these foods, top up with food supplements especially during the winter months:

Vitamin D

Our skin makes most of the vitamin D we need through sunlight exposure, but this is virtually impossible in winter months when living in the UK with short days and when we’re wrapped up warm.

I recommend bolstering your kids’ vitamin D levels through food sources and supplements to ensure you meet their recommended intake. Popular food sources of vitamin D include oily fish, egg yolks, outdoor reared meat, and organic whole milk.

Vitamin D supplements can be given from birth and are usually available for babies and toddlers as drops or sprays at a 400iu/10ug dose.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is excellent at helping your body to defend itself from viruses. It’s famously found in citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, but it’s also found in high concentrations in kiwi fruit, strawberries, pineapple, and blackcurrants, as well as vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, potato and parsley.

A baby from birth to 6 months needs 40mg of vitamin C a day and babies aged for 7-12 months this increases slightly to 50mg a day. Toddlers have a lower RDA of 15mg, but they can take up to 400mg per day if unwell.

If your baby is not weaned onto solid food yet, remember breastmilk contains around 5mg Vitamin C per 100ml. Infant formula contains 13mg per 100ml. Vitamin C supplements can be given to little ones from 3 months old if you feel they need a top up.

Zinc

Zinc is a mighty mineral which not only supports a child’s immune system but has a special action against viruses. It inhibits the RSV virus’s ability to replicate and penetrate our cell walls, thereby reducing the damage the virus can cause to your little one.

Foods high in zinc include red meat, shellfish, eggs, and dairy. Legumes, nut butters, ground seeds and whole grains also contain zinc. Zinc dietary supplements can be given to children from 3 months old and the rule of thumb is to give 1mg per year of age.

Elderberry

Elderberry syrup is a popular preventative and remedy for colds and viruses. Not only is it delicious, sweet and child-friendly and packed with vitamin C, but it can also soothe a sore throat, reduce inflammation in breathing passages, and slow up RSV replication. It works beautifully in conjunction with the zinc to prevent the nasty damage from the virus.

Elderberry syrup can be given from 3 months old and should be given at the first sign of an infection. If your child experiences back-to-back infections, you can give it daily until they seem more resilient.

N Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

NAC is a supplement form of cysteine, an amino acid found in meat, fish, cereals, dairy, soya beans and eggs. It is the precursor to making the body’s innate master antioxidant called glutathione which prevents inflammation and supports immunity. NAC as a food supplement is often used to help clear the airways of mucus and support the immune system and has long been popular in Asia for a wide range of viruses and colds.

NAC is safe to use in pregnancy and breastfeeding and for children over 12 months.

Live bacteria

Live bacteria keep the natural gut bacterial culture balanced and healthy, which in turn keeps the immune system robust and able to fight viruses effectively. Research has been delving deep into the role that the gut microbiome plays in supporting the immune system’s ability to defend against RSV infection, especially via the respiratory system known as the gut-lung axis.

Lactobacillus strains are particularly helpful for the immune system and beneficial bacteria supplements can be given from birth. Bifidobacterium is important too and can help to prevent significant infection such as sepsis. This is why many baby and toddler friendly bacteria supplements contain both lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. Once a baby is weaned onto solids, they can consume foods that naturally contain both live bacterial strains such as live yoghurt and kefir.

Breastmilk also contains prebiotics called Human Milk Oligosaccharides which have immune supporting properties and can protect from RSV. In a similar way Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) is added to infant milk formula to promote better immunity.

Round up

You do not need to fear RSV and most of you will have already had it when you were a child! However, you cannot rest on our laurels if your child does contract it as you really don’t want a super sick child. I hope these tips help you to quickly spot RSV and keep its spread and symptoms under control this winter.

If you feel your child has developed complications following an RSV infection, or if they seem to be catching infections back-to-back, please book in with one of our NatureDoc child nutrition specialist who can work with you to build up protection for them from future viruses.

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