With RSV, the flu and COVID-19 going around, getting your child medical care as soon as possible is of the utmost importance. Lori Tapia, a registered nurse and director of ambulatory services at the Robert B. Green campus, sought medical attention for her 5-month-old daughter, Ariella.
“She had started showing symptoms midweek with just a cough, like a wet, hacky cough,” Tapia said.
Ariella’s condition deteriorated after a few days. Tapia first took Ariella to an urgent care clinic, then to the ER.
“Within about an hour and a half of me being in the ER they said, ‘Yeah we’re going to admit her,’” Tapia said. “They put her on oxygen and started her on IV fluids.”
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Children
Ariella had respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. RSV is a common respiratory virus that often affects babies and children younger than 2. It causes inflammation in the lungs and hinders breathing.
Symptoms of RSV
- Runny nose
- Decrease in appetite
- Coughing and sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
“I’m an ex-ICU nurse, so I’m used to seeing that on other patients, but it’s always different when it’s your kid,” Tapia said.
Ariella stayed in the hospital for about a week and was in the ICU at one point. “They just needed that constant monitoring because she was unstable at that point and they had classified her under respiratory failure,” Tapia said.
Advice for Parents
Ariella has since recovered and is back to her healthy, happy self. Tapia has advice for parents whose child gets sick. “If you’re on the fence, it’s not going to hurt to go get them seen because a doctor will always tell you whether or not they need to progress with further care or they’re going to be okay to go home,” Tapia said.
Pediatric Emergency Care at University Health
If you have concerns about your child’s health, please don’t hesitate to visit one of our walk-in clinics or children's emergency room.
