the first year of life, and to toddlers with conditions that severely dampen the immune system. The injections are given monthly, for up to five months, typically starting in November.
But last week, the AAP advised pediatricians to consider starting palivizumab now.
“With the level of RSV activity we’re seeing now, we’re trying to roll that out in summer,” Gesteland says.
Why the rise?
What’s going on? It’s fairly simple, according to Kociolek and Gesteland: At the start of the pandemic, with widespread social distancing and mask-wearing, RSV cases all but vanished and remained low during the normal 2020-2021 season.
Then as restrictions loosened and large gatherings became the norm again, people came into contact with pathogens, including RSV, that have been lying in wait, Gesteland says.
Besides medication for high-risk babies, Kociolek says parents can also help shield infants from RSV by limiting their exposure to large gatherings or people with cold symptoms.
Early symptoms of RSV — fever, cough and congestion — can look a lot like other respiratory ills, including COVID-19. Generally, Gesteland says, testing is the only way to know for sure which virus is the culprit.
According to the AAP, almost all youngsters recover from RSV on their own. But if a baby is wheezing or showing other signs of labored breathing, parents should call their pediatrician, Kociolek concludes.