When out and about everywhere from Disneyland to our doctor's offices, I get asked where I got it from. Our sign came in the mail from the makers of Synagis, but you can order them here. We have 2 signs because Austin has had two seasons of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) shots. Today he began his third seasonal round of shots, much to his dismay, so it is very likely that a third sign will arrive at our house soon.
Often with the explanation of the sign comes the longer explanation of RSV and its risks. Chances are if your child is not in a high-risk category you have never heard of Synagis or very much about RSV at all.
As the parent of a child with Chronic Lung Disease my social life is dictated by taking extra precautions during RSV season. I take it very seriously, I even have the County website for RSV cases bookmarked on my browser. The site is used to update healthcare professionals in our area of Respiratory illness cases county wide. It covers the seasonal flu as well, but is dominated during RSV season by RSV cases. This season it also includes H1N1 cases reported in our county. Noticeably, those numbers are increasing at a much higher rate, but it is still early in RSV season. Usually there is a peak of RSV cases closer to January where we live.
RSV season runs from October to April depending on where you live in the US. RSV season is serious business. RSV can affect ANY child, however special precaution is taken to protect preemies born prior to 35 weeks as their lungs are very fragile. Austin was a 36 weeker, but due to his Trach and Chronic Lung Disease he is also a candidate for RSV shots. When he was born, in November, his Pediatrician said he did not need the RSV shots. But 3 months and one Trach surgery later, his Pulmonologist said he was an automatic candidate, but by then there were only 2 months of RSV season left.
A home health care nurse sent by a Pharmacy shows up at our house every month from November to April and gives him his Synagis injection. The dosage is based on weight, 15mg/kg of Synagis (Palivizumab) so it changes monthly.
The following information is provided by the makers of Synagis.
RSV is common, seasonal and easily spread virus that infects nearly ALL children by their 2nd birthday. While most children get mild symptoms some at-risk babies can become very ill and hospitalized.
Who is at Risk:
- Preemies born prior to 35 weeks.
- Babies with Heart Disease under age 2.
- Babies with Chronic Lung Disease under age 2.
Symptoms of Severe RSV:
- Persistent coughing
- Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing)
- Rapid breathing
- Gasping for breath
- Bluish color at fingernails or mouth
- Rectal fever greater than 100.4 F
Important Things You Should Know:
- Synagis is NOT a vaccine, it is a medication given monthly. Each shot carries RSV specific antibodies that preemies may not have gotten in utero due to premature birth. It is the only FDA approved medication to help protect against RSV.
- Synagis shots may be recommended through your child's Second year. Each Synagis shot is scheduled 28-30 days apart. If your child begins a Synagis regimen it is very important to continue with each shot throughout RSV season, each shot only offers RSV protection for up to 30 days.
- In its severe form RSV can cause up to 125,000 babies to be hospitalized annually.
- RSV virus is spread by sneezing, coughing, and handshaking. It is very persistent and can live on surfaces for up to 6 hours.
Additional Possible Risk Factors:
- Other toddlers or children in the home or daycare.
- Family history of Asthma.
- Exposure to Tobacco smoke or tother air pollutants (Smoke is always bad for lungs.)
- Multiple births - Multiples are often premature or low birth weight.
- Low birth weight - under 5.5 lbs
- Crowding - four or more members living in a household.
- Age: Less than 3 months of age at the onset of RSV season or born during RSV season.
Safety tips for RSV Season:
- Wash your hands before touching a baby, ask others to do so as well.
- Keep babies away from crowds and young children.
- Keep babies away from those who are ill with colds, it may be undiagnosed RSV.
- Wash baby toys, clothing & bedding often.
- Keep babies away from tobacco smoke. (Smoke is always bad for lungs.)
Thanks for peeking,
12 Peekers Speak:
I despise RSV season. It is not my friend.
No shots for us this year....man it's gonna suck.
This is very well written and hits the important points of RSV. When I worked in the hospital, coordinator of the Respiratory Therapy department for Peds and NICU we HATED RSV season. Most of the kids admitted had the choking cough with a lot of mucus, almost like they were choking on it. We could make the diagnosis before the cultures came back.
The virus can live for 24+ hours on cold surfaces such as counters, doorknobs, shopping carts and just about any other hard surface. It can also survive on materials such as clothing. Hand washing is the #1 defense against any respiratory virus.
Most healthy kids and adults get symptoms of a cold and never even know if it's RSV or not. Those at high risk as outlined in this post it can be life threatening.
It's not like chicken pox where once infected you are immune, you can get it again and again and you can pass it on without having it.
The high season is October/November thru April but with the changes in climate you can get it any time of the year but are at higher risk during the listed months.
Sorry for taking over your blog here but I very much believe in education and prevention.
I love your blog and the information you put out there for parents of all children of all ages. Thank you for getting the word out.
RSV can be very dangerous. Thanks for sharing this information!
Janis - thanks for such an informative post!
This was really what kicked off our journey towards Kendall's diagnosis, when she got severe RSV/pneumonia/sepsis. I must admit I am panicked slightly for this upcoming season. I think it tends to peak here around Jan/Feb also. I am curious about what the commenter above said - that you don't build resistance to it once you've had it??? i was definitely assuming you did. So I am thinking Kendall is probably still at risk for it with the RAD/continued aspiration. aren't the synagis shots hard to get covered though? And how do you go about finding out if your child needs to have them? I know this was all on some post somewhere on P2P...i hate having that down!
This is great info, Janis. Can we share it on kidz?
your blog is very informative. I stooped over from MBC.
I love that sign! It should be used for ALL parents of little ones. I hate it when strangers get up close and touch.
I am following you from MBC!
Thanfully Ava gets Synagis monthly, but I love that sign and may get one too.
That's awesome! Thanks for posting the link. I might us it as a necklace. Just kidding.
Thanks for all the additional info Dee. I am so glad you all found the post useful. Here is to an RSV free winter for us all!!!
Very informative blog post, thank you for sharing all of this. I love the sign too!
Terra...have a friend whose kid got RSV three times in one year...probably too many strains of it floating around....so you just keep on getting it.
Kendall would not be hard to get covered for RSV shots...just the fact that her first bout landed her in the hospital in resp failure/sepsis tends to be a slam dunk...you just have that "is it safe for her" issue. Your ped or pulm can go and get authorization from your insurance company like they would do for a preemie...if your insurance said no, then you appeal. you write them the lovely....hey RSV will kill my kid letter...they are apt to go for it.... Pull out how much it cost them the first time too.
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