How to Know when your Baby’s Cold is More than Just a Cold…

What may look like the common cold in your infant may be something more serious like RSV. It's called respiratory syncytial virus and peak season is November through April. The virus may only cause minor symptoms in infants such as runny nose, cough, congestion, as well as a fever. Older children will complain of eye itching. The recovery time for most kids with r-s-v is typically one to two weeks. But for some the virus may require a visit to the doctor or even the emergency room. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends pavlizumab medication---it's a drug that helps prevent the severity of r-s-v in some infants. For most children experts recommend at home treatments such as taking acetaminophen for a fever, drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and using a humidifier to keep the air moist. So if your baby has difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. But if your infant or child is healthy doctors say the virus will run its course.