The RS virus is already a familiar stranger among people. For many, it brings the usual flu, but for the smallest, it can cause, for example, breathing problems, which must be treated in the hospital.
The RS virus, especially troublesome for babies, is spreading again.
Kanta-Häme Central Hospital has treated several children who have been hospitalized due to symptoms caused by the RS virus. Most of the patients have been small babies.
At Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, there have recently been three babies in ward care who have been sickened by the RS virus.
– The epidemic also started a little earlier than usual compared to other years, Turunen states.
A newborn should not be taken into a crowd
Newborns and premature babies are most prone to severe symptoms. Other children under the age of one are also a risk group.
– It is important that families with small infants or children a few months old should avoid unnecessary contact and take care of good hand hygiene. As we have learned in recent years, this is the best way to prevent this virus, chief physician Heikki Tuikkala reminds.
Babies should also not be taken to public spaces during an epidemic. Senior doctor Riikka Turunen from Kanta-Häme Central Hospital also recommends that taking the older siblings of the baby’s family to treatment should be avoided if at all possible.
– It certainly protects the baby well. Of course, also considering other kindergarten epidemics, it is still really important not to take children with even a little runny nose to day care, so that virus epidemics do not spread through the kindergarten.
However, the RS virus is already familiar, and is therefore well managed. In both central hospitals, provision has been made for the fact that if patients affected by the RS virus come to the hospital a lot, for example due to breathing problems, it will be possible to add more places for them in ward treatment.