Doctor Nguyen Thi Hanh Trang, Deputy Head of Pediatrics at Tam Anh General Hospital, TP HCM, states that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) primarily spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. RSV symptoms typically appear 4-6 days after infection. Mild symptoms include a runny nose, cough, sneezing, and fever, while severe cases can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing, persistent coughing, high fever, and bluish lips or fingertips. Without timely treatment, RSV can cause complications such as bronchiolitis, pneumonia, middle ear infections, and respiratory failure, potentially leading to death. The following groups of children face a high risk of complications when infected with RSV:

Premature infants: Their lungs are not fully developed, airways are small, and immune systems are immature, making them more vulnerable to damage when the virus attacks.

Immunocompromised children: Their bodies are unable to produce sufficient antibodies to fight off the virus.

Children with chronic lung disease (BPD): These children have damaged or abnormally structured lungs due to prematurity or other factors. If RSV attacks, it causes inflammation and swelling of the airways, leading to severe obstruction and respiratory failure.

Children with neuromuscular diseases: These children may struggle with coughing, swallowing, or clearing secretions from their respiratory tracts, allowing the virus to persist easily and cause more severe infections.

Children with congenital heart disease: When infected with RSV, these babies often experience difficulty breathing, which increases the burden on their circulatory system and can lead to heart failure or other serious cardiovascular complications.

Children are injected with a monoclonal antibody to prevent RSV. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

In the high-risk groups mentioned above, RSV often causes more severe lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Children with these complications may require oxygen support and mechanical ventilation. Critically ill children face extended hospital stays and high costs. Even after treatment, they remain at risk for chronic respiratory diseases later in life.

RSV is dangerous because there is currently no specific antiviral medication to treat it; treatment primarily focuses on supportive care and symptom relief. To prevent RSV-related illnesses, parents should ensure children wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing, sneezing, or touching an ill person. It is important to avoid close contact with individuals who have colds or the flu. Families should also regularly clean surfaces at high risk of virus contamination, such as doorknobs and toys.

Doctor Hanh Trang states that Vietnam now has a monoclonal antibody, produced using advanced recombinant biotechnology, which directly provides specific antibodies, helping the body build immunity immediately after injection. Pregnant women can consult their doctor about receiving the RSV vaccine to protect their child from birth.

Dinh Lam