RSV or viral respiratory infection can cause severe symptoms in young children, premature children, and the elderly over 65 years old, as well as patients with underlying diseases. During weather changes, clean household appliances and equipment frequently, wash your hands, exercise regularly, eat freshly cooked food, use serving spoons, and wear a mask to reduce the risk of infection from respiratory diseases.
What is RSV disease?
Dr. Somsak Akkasilp, Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, said that respiratory infection from the RSV virus is a disease that can be found a lot in the late rainy season to the winter. This ยูฟ่าเบท type of disease is one of the diseases that have symptoms similar to the flu, but it can cause severe symptoms in young children, premature children, and the elderly over 65 years old, including patients with underlying diseases such as asthma, heart disease.
What causes RSV ?
RSV infection occurs through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. It can enter the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth, or through direct contact with the virus by shaking hands. It is easily spread through coughing or sneezing. Patients infected with RSV usually develop symptoms 4-6 days after being infected.
Symptoms of RSV
Symptoms are generally similar to the common cold, such as:
- Have a fever
- cough
- sore throat
- Have a runny nose
- Headache
If the infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract, the patient will have severe symptoms, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, severe coughing. Causing pneumonia. In some cases, it can lead to heart failure.
High-risk group for severe RSV symptoms
Dr. Anek Kanoksin, Director of the Chest Disease Institute, Department of Medical Services, added that this type of disease can occur at any age, but in adults, the symptoms are not severe. Severe symptoms occur in children under 15 years old, with underlying or chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart or lung disease, or patients with low immune systems, etc.
RSV diagnosis
For treatment in patients who are found to have symptoms, the doctor will test for RSV virus from nasal secretions. Treatment of respiratory infection from RSV virus currently has no vaccine and no cure. The doctor will treat according to the patient’s symptoms. However, if the symptoms do not improve or are severe, you must see a doctor immediately.
How to prevent RSV
To prevent RSV respiratory infection, we should take good care of ourselves by following these methods.
- Avoid going to crowded places.
- Keep your body warm in cold weather
- Clean frequently touched household items and equipment frequently, such as doorknobs, handrails, and remote controls.
- Eat freshly cooked, nutritious food that contains all five food groups.
- Use a serving spoon when sharing food with others.
- Exercise regularly to strengthen your immune system.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol gel.
- Everyone in the house should clean themselves to reduce the risk of being a carrier of germs and spreading them to other people in the house.
- Masks should be worn to prevent the spread of infection.
If we know how to protect ourselves, we can reduce the chances of getting infected with respiratory diseases.