Doctors are urging families to prepare before winter as RSV threatens serious illness in infants, while new antibody protection offers a powerful defence against hospitalisation.
As cooler weather settles in, paediatricians are urging parents to think ahead about respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, a common winter infection that can hit infants especially hard. Dr Dean Blumberg, chief of paediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Health, said the season usually begins in the autumn and that babies in their first RSV season face the greatest danger of serious illness.
That concern is backed by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which says RSV is a frequent cause of significant respiratory disease in young children and a major reason for hospital admissions. The agency notes that infants under six months, premature babies and children with certain medical conditions are among those at highest risk. Mayo Clinic likewise says the virus often spreads easily from person to person and tends to follow a seasonal pattern, with cases commonly rising in the colder months.
The early signs can look much like a routine cold: a runny nose, watery eyes and a cough. But Blumberg said parents should watch closely for warning signs that the illness is moving into the lower airways. Rapid breathing, flaring nostrils, ribs showing with each breath and a bluish colour around the lips can all signal that a child needs urgent medical attention. The CDC and Mayo Clinic both note that RSV can progress to bronchiolitis or pneumonia, particularly in vulnerable infants.
Prevention has improved in recent years. The Food and Drug Administration has approved nirsevimab, marketed as Beyfortus, to help prevent severe RSV disease in newborns and infants, and the CDC has said the shot can cut RSV-related hospital visits and admissions by about 80% in infants. Blumberg said a single dose can protect children through their first and most dangerous RSV season. He also pointed to maternal vaccination during pregnancy, when given at the right time, as another way to pass protective antibodies to a baby before birth.
Older adults also need to pay attention. Blumberg said people aged 65 and over face a higher risk of lower respiratory illness, while immunocompromised patients may also need vaccination on a case-by-case basis. For parents, the message from doctors is straightforward: prepare early, know the symptoms and seek care quickly if breathing becomes difficult.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
