A Brief Overview of RSV and How to Prevent this Disease
RSV is a respiratory virus that attached both the upper and lower portions of the respiratory tract. The virus can start off small with minor cold or flu symptoms or develop into something more "hospital serious" with bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
It is always the weak who are most vulnerable to infectious diseases as they do not have the strong immune system needed to fight off most infections. The elderly and young children and babies often get many illnesses but one to particularly watch for is RSV or respiratory syncytial virus.
RSV is a respiratory virus that attached both the upper and lower portions of the respiratory tract. The virus can start off small with minor cold or flu symptoms or develop into something more "hospital serious" with bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Some of the most common symptoms include cough, fever, lot of nasal drainage that runs clear and even poor appetite in babies as well as irritability.
Transmission of RSV
RSV is similar to other viruses in that it takes direct contact with the respiratory droplets that house the germs. Breathing in the same air as someone who sneezes and coughs is surefire way to contract the virus. In addition, because the virus can stay alive indefinitely on surfaces, you could even develop RSV after coming into contact with a contaminated surface and then touching your face near your eyes, nose or mouth.
Wintertime is the most common season when RSV occurs with early spring coming in a close second. It takes up to a week between exposure and symptoms cropping up. Unfortunately for infants, they can stay infectious for up to a month while older adults can spread the virus for about a week. For those with compromised immune systems, recurring health problems will be the likely result of RSV.
Treatment and Prevention of RSV
Because viruses cannot be treated successfully by antibiotics, there are other ways to treat RSV. The chance of dehydration is great so fluids are promoted. And because RSV affects the respiratory system, oxygen is often needed for easier breathing. For those individuals with a higher susceptibility, antiviral medications are often tried like Ribavirin.
Fear Of GermsA Basic Preventative Program for HIV and AIDS
The extensive knowledge about HIV and AIDS has only come within the past thirty or so years. Before that, these autoimmune conditions were not even a blip on the medical community radar. Once seen as a gay disease, HIV and AIDS has become a disease viewed more universally. While strides are being made every day, there is still not cure for these problems and chances are that there won't be for a long time.
Infection Control Nurse
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RSV can be prevented through proper hand washing hygiene. Soap and water is best as long as you spend at least a minute lathering up and washing between fingers as well as beneath fingernails. In addition, proper disposal of tissues used to wipe and blow noses is essential. Another way to decrease the chance of RSV happening to you or your baby includes disinfecting children's toys as well as common surfaces that everyone has the potential to touch.
While there is no vaccine for RSV at the moment, immune globulin is sometimes administered for high risk patients. This immune globulin helps boost body immunity with the production of new antibodies. There are some preventative treatments for RSV but only people who are highly susceptible to RSV typically get them. While these preventative treatments don't always halt the virus in its tracks, they do help your body produce antibodies to fight the infection. If you or your child is susceptible to respiratory illnesses, it would pay to ask your doctor about these treatments and avoid a trip to the hospital. RSV can be serious to the right people, so educate yourself about its dangers to both you and your kids. Latest News Regarding Infection Control ?
11/19/2008
Hospital must do more to halt infection, patient says (Guelph Mercury)
GUELPH (Nov 19, 2008) -- A Guelph General Hospital patient says medical staff need to do more to halt the spread of a contagious bacteria, though an infection control officer counters that current measures are aggressive.
Hospital must do more to halt infection, patient says (Guelph Mercury)
11/21/2008
Better Tracking of a Childhood Infection Needed, Officials Say (The Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
Federal officials urged doctors and state health agencies to be more vigilant for suspected cases of Haemophilus influenzae type B in children under 5.
Better Tracking of a Childhood Infection Needed, Officials Say (The Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
11/19/2008
Hospital must do more to halt infection, patient says (Guelph Mercury)
GUELPH (Nov 19, 2008) -- A Guelph General Hospital patient says medical staff need to do more to halt the spread of a contagious bacteria, though an infection control officer counters that current measures are aggressive.
Hospital must do more to halt infection, patient says (Guelph Mercury)
11/21/2008
Better Tracking of a Childhood Infection Needed, Officials Say (The Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
Federal officials urged doctors and state health agencies to be more vigilant for suspected cases of Haemophilus influenzae type B in children under 5.
Better Tracking of a Childhood Infection Needed, Officials Say (The Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
11/21/2008
Better tracking of a childhood infection needed, officials say (Spartanburg Herald-Journal)
Published: Friday, November 21, 2008 at 5:21 a.m. Last Modified: Friday, November 21, 2008 at 6:48 a.m.
Better tracking of a childhood infection needed, officials say (Spartanburg Herald-Journal)
11/19/2008
New Online Tools Help Calculate Risk, Control Infection in Horses (University of Guelph News)
Horse owners will be able to determine the risk of their animals catching an infectious disease and gather information about infection control thanks to two new online initiatives from the University of Guelph. The first is an online calculator that allows horse owners to punch in their management practices and learn their animals' risk levels. The second initiative is a blog by Ontario ...
New Online Tools Help Calculate Risk, Control Infection in Horses (University of Guelph News)
11/18/2008
Nanosonics appoints European distributors for infection control product (Pharmaceutical Business Review)
Nanosonics, an Australia-based company engaged in R&D and commercialization of infection control and decontamination products, has formally appointed its first exclusive distributors in Europe located in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and Scandinavia.
Nanosonics appoints European distributors for infection control product (Pharmaceutical Business Review)
11/18/2008
Nanosonics appoints European distributors for infection control product (Pharmaceutical Business Review)
Nanosonics, an Australia-based company engaged in R&D and commercialization of infection control and decontamination products, has formally appointed its first exclusive distributors in Europe located in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and Scandinavia.
Nanosonics appoints European distributors for infection control product (Pharmaceutical Business Review)
11/19/2008
Hospital must do more to halt infection, patient says (Guelph Mercury)
GUELPH (Nov 19, 2008) -- A Guelph General Hospital patient says medical staff need to do more to halt the spread of a contagious bacteria, though an infection control officer counters that current measures are aggressive.
Hospital must do more to halt infection, patient says (Guelph Mercury)
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