What you need to know about RSV, a virus prevalent among young children in Canada | CBC News

Children’s hospitals in Canada are seeing an increase in cases of a common respiratory virus that, in rare cases, can cause serious illness in infants.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes infections of the lungs and airways. It can cause serious infections in some people, including babies under the age of two and older adults with pre-existing conditions.

RSV cases fell dramatically early in the pandemic but spiked last fall and are now rising in many parts of the country, says Dr. Earl Rubin, director of the infectious diseases unit at Montreal Children’s Hospital.

Rubin says the surge is part of the reason his hospital is struggling with long waits and a shortage of beds.

“We’re overwhelmed,” he said. “We are experiencing in children’s hospitals what adult hospitals experienced during the peak of COVID.”

Rubin speaks of the “triple threat”. the fluNew Coronavirus variants and RSV is a cause for concern.

Here’s a look at what’s behind the increase in RSV cases.

What is RSV?

The virus usually leads to cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, cough and fever. It is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract disease in young children worldwide, with outbreaks typically occurring in Canada in late fall to early spring.

While many infections are just the common cold, children under the age of two are at risk of a serious condition, such as bronchiolitis — a blockage in the small airways in the lungs — or pneumonia, and may be hospitalized.

“Almost all babies become infected by the age of two. It’s very common…but some babies can get very sick,” said Dr. Anna Banerji, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor at the University of Toronto School of Medicine.

In his latest update, Health Canada reported a surge in RSV cases in many parts of the country, although Banerji says testing isn’t widespread enough to get a full picture. hospitals in United States have also reported an increase in cases.

The Quebec Department of Health reported a higher positivity rate than the national average. CHEO, a children’s hospital in Ottawa, said in a statement RSV cases are one reason it “just had its busiest September ever.”

Why are cases rising now?

Both Banerji and Rubin say there were fewer RSV cases when public health action was taken over COVID-19, but there was a spike last fall and again this year as young children were exposed to more people .

Many of these children don’t have strong immunity because they weren’t previously exposed and their birth mothers may not have been exposed either and passed on the immunity, Banerji said.

At his Montreal hospital, Rubin says he also sees some slightly older children, between the ages of one and two, who are sicker than usual.

“They don’t have immunity, and if they have any predisposing conditions, whether it’s asthma or allergies, that will predispose [them to RSV],” he said.

How is it spreading?

RSV is predominantly spread through aspirated droplets, Rubin says. He recommends washing hands and making sure that older children sneeze into the crook of their arms and cover their mouths when coughing.

It can also spread through contact. “If you touch a contaminated surface and then rub your eye, pick your nose, you can infect yourself,” he said.

Infected people are usually contagious for three to eight days. Babies and people with compromised immune systems, however, can spread RSV longer.

Who is most at risk and what can be done?

People with pre-existing conditions, especially premature babies, can be susceptible to the most serious infections.

studies guided by Banerji also suggest that Inuit infants in northern Canada are particularly at risk.

“They have much higher admission rates than almost any other population in the world,” she said.

During RSV season, injections of an antibody-based drug are sometimes prescribed to protect premature and other very vulnerable babies.

This precaution is not available in Nunavut. Banerji started a petition — now with more than 200,000 signatures — is calling on the Nunavut government to expand the use of this drug.

Doctors may also prescribe oral steroids or an inhaler to make breathing easier. In severe cases, patients may be given oxygen, a breathing tube, or a ventilator in the hospital.

“If a child needs to be hospitalized, it’s because their oxygen levels are low, or they’re having a really hard time breathing on their own and may need ventilators, or they’re not eating well,” Banerji said.

At home, she said, parents can do their best to manage symptoms with fever medication and make sure their baby is adequately hydrated.