Download Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV)

Hand washing takes about 15 seconds.
• Use soap and running water
• Rub hands together as you wash them
• Make sure that all surfaces are washed,
including:
• Finger tips
• Thumbs
• Wrists
• Back of hands
• Between fingers
• Rinse hands thoroughly with running water
• Dry hands thoroughly (pat dry)
• Use a skin lotion if hands are dry
• Cover any cuts or abrasions with a band
aid or other waterproof dressing.
•
•
•
•
•
Before eating
Before handling food
Before and after attending to a wound
After going to the toilet
After handling objects that are soiled with
blood or other body fluids (ie urine, faeces,
vomit, nasal secretions)
First, talk to your nurse, midwife or doctor. If
you would like more information you can
telephone the Hospital’s Infection Control Unit
(08) 8161 6388 or ask your nurse to contact
the Unit for you.
The following brochures are available by asking
ward nursing / midwifery staff or contacting the
Infection Control Unit
•
Infection Control and Your Baby
•
‘Bug Watch’
•
NPA (Nasopharyngeal Aspirate)
•
Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase
Producing Bacteria
•
Multi-resistant Gram Negative Bacteria
(MRGN)
•
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA)
•
Infection Control Unit Information
•
Chickenpox and Pregnancy
For further information please contact:
Infection Control Unit
(08) 8161 6388
Fax: (08) 8161 6051
Monday – Friday 8am – 4.30pm
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Information for Patients
and / or Care givers
72 King William Road
North Adelaide
South Australia 5006
Phone (08) 8161 7000
Fax (08) 8161 7459
Web: http://www.wch.sa.gov.au
August 2004
Brochure developed by Marija Juraja (Infection
Control Link Nurse, 4th Floor Medical Ward) in
conjunction with the Infection Control Team
'
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a
major cause of respiratory illness in
children. It can be the cause or trigger for
many respiratory conditions such as
bronchiolitis,
bronchopneumonia and
asthma. Those at most risk are children
under
the
age
of
12
months,
immunocompromised children or children
who have an underlying cardiac condition.
The symptoms of RSV are similar to a
cold initially. From day 2 to 3 the
symptoms may become worse. The
symptoms usually resolve over 5 to 7
days. Severe cases may require
admission to hospital and may take up to
2-3 weeks to resolve. Children are
contagious for at least a week while they
have any symptoms.
The signs and symptoms are:
• Fever
RSV is able to survive on any surface for
a few hours but is is easily killed with soap
and water. RSV is a virus and antibiotic
treatment doesn’t kill it. It is a seasonal
virus and is usually widespread during the
winter months.
•
Runny nose
•
Irritability and restlessness
•
Poor feeding or food refusal in older
children
•
Coughing
•
Wheezing
•
Difficulty breathing
•
Irregular or rapid breathing in young
babies
RSV is highly infectious. Up to a million
virus particles can be in one ml of
respiratory
secretions.
Hands
contaminated with these infectious
secretions can pass on the virus by
contact with the nose and eyes. Droplets
from a cough or sneeze may also spread
it to other people in close contact.
'
'
If RSV progresses quickly some children
display symptoms such as:
• Rapid breathing using all their
abdominal muscles
A sample of nasal mucus is needed to
positively identify RSV and to rule out any
bacterial
infection.
An
NPA
(nasopharyngeal aspirate) is ordered by
the doctor and performed by a nurse or
technician. This test is done by inserting a
small plastic catheter into the nose and a
small amount of mucus is sucked from the
back of the nose. The specimen is sent to
the laboratory for rapid testing (see the
special brochure on NPA).
'
'
'
The only help that we can give to children
with RSV infection is to treat the
symptoms. The treatment depends on
what symptoms the child has.
Children are usually placed in a room of
their own or with others with the same
infection to prevent the risk of spreading
the infection. The head of the bed may be
lifted (for comfort of breathing). If
indicated, oxygen therapy may be given
via a tube under the nose or a facemask.
Also, fluid may be given by a tube inserted
into the stomach or by an intravenous
drip.
The most important thing for parents to
remember is good hand washing after
touching or caring for their child or
handling their child’s belongings. This
helps to prevent the spread of
infection.