November 17 is World Prematurity Day, a day dedicated to raise awareness about prematurity & the risks of pre-term birth. Did you know that with underdeveloped organs & immature immune systems, babies born prior to 37 weeks can be especially prone to infections from seemingly harmless viruses like the common cold, the flu or RSV? Pretty scary. What's even scarier? RSV can affect kids of all ages, not just those born premature.
My niece was born premature and I remember how small and fragile she looked. I remember the process it took to be able to just be able to hold her. Luckily, nothing serious happened to her and today, my niece is actually a very healthy 9 year old. Others aren't so lucky. Being a new parent, it can be overwhelming but being a new parent to a premature baby? I can't even begin to imagine!
13 million babies are born early every year, including more than half a million in the United States so it's very important to be aware and educate ourselves, especially if we're expecting parents!
Quick facts we should all know:
- RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, and severe RSV disease causes up to 10 times as many infant deaths each year as the flu.
- RSV is most prevalent during the winter months. The CDC has defined the “RSV season” as beginning in November and lasting through March for most parts of North America.
- In addition to prematurity, common risk factors include low birth weight, certain lung or heart diseases, a family history of asthma and frequent contact with other children.
Prematurity and RSV in the U.S. Hispanic Community
- The current rate of preterm births in the U.S. Hispanic community is 11.66 percent. Since 2006, the preterm rate has declined 5 percent for Hispanic infants.
- Data indicate that infants from U.S. Hispanic communities are at increased risk to develop severe RSV disease; while the exact reason for the increased risk is unknown, the increased prematurity rate is likely a contributing factor.
- Two-thirds of U.S. Hispanic mothers have never heard of RSV, and one in five U.S. Hispanic moms only becomes aware of RSV once their child has contracted the virus.
Prevention is Key
RSV is very contagious and can be spread easily through touching, sneezing and coughing. Since there’s
no treatment for RSV, parents should take the following preventive steps to help protect their child:
- Wash hands, toys, bedding, and play areas frequently
- Ensure you, your family, and any visitors in your home wash their hands or use hand sanitizer
- Avoid large crowds and people who are or have been sick
- Never let anyone smoke near your baby
- Speak with your child’s doctor if he or she may be at high risk for RSV, as a preventive therapy may be available.
Know the Symptoms
Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:
• Severe coughing, wheezing or rapid gasping breaths
• Blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails
• High fever and extreme fatigue
For more information, be sure to check out the RSV Protection website or for updates, be sure to connect on Facebook. And since this is such an important topic that everyone should have resources to, me encantaría incluir un archivo pdf para los Latinos! Haga clic en la imagen para abrir el archivo pdf.
Help spread the word so that others can be aware of the dangers of #RSV! Together we can help raise awareness about prematurity and the potential risks associated with pre-term birth. If you have tips or stories that you would like to share, I'd love to hear them!
Disclosure: This post is compensated and in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect.