Infants and toddlers

[Guest guest]

I would like you all to read this and tell me what your thoughts

are. There is a commercial that aires quite frequently on RSV and I

have not researched this as of yet. There are many children dying

from this infection and I know several that have been diagnosed with

it. Before I make a comment on this and maybe read more into this

than is there, I would like to hear from others. What really peaked

my attention was the time of year that RSV seems to occur the most.

Spring & Winter. Again, are we given incomplete information so that

we do not alarm the public of what the cause may really be. Let's

just give it a different name so that it does not draw attention. Is

this their line of thinking? Correct me if I am wrong, please. Any

input would be appreciated. Maybe there are still other " critters "

that I am not aware of.

KC

Infants and toddlers

http://www.emedicine.com/PED/topic1833.htm

Viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia, accounting for

approximately 90% of all lower respiratory infections.

RSV is the most common viral pathogen followed by parainfluenza

types 1, 2, 3, and influenza A or B. RSV occurs in the winter and

early spring. Parainfluenza type 3 occurs in the spring, and types 1

and 2 occur in the fall. Influenza occurs in the winter.

Other viruses that less frequently cause pneumonia in infants

include adenovirus, enterovirus, rhinovirus, coronavirus,

herpesvirus, and cytomegalovirus. A recent addition to this list is

human metapneumovirus, which causes an illness very similar to RSV.

Bacterial infections in this age group are uncommon and attributable

to Streptococcus pneumoniae, H influenzae type B (much less common

in immunized children), or Staphylococcus aureus. The infant or

toddler with bacterial pneumonia may present with lethargy,

irritability, acidosis, hypotonia or hypoxia that is out of

proportion to ausculatory findings.

Children younger than 5 years, children enrolled in day care, or

those with frequent ear infections are at increased risk for

invasive pneumococcal disease and infection with resistant

pneumococcal strains. They often are treated with an antibiotic

within a month of contracting pneumonia.

Evidence suggests that breastfeeding has a protective effect against

invasive pneumococcus.