Latest news with #respiratorysyncytialvirus
Hindustan Times
05-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Climate shifts fueling viral infections: Doctor explains the link, shares prevention tips for children and elderly
The dramatic shifts in climate have also brought in the risk of viral infections and diseases, over the last few years. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Atique Ahemad, consultant paediatrician and neonatologist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai said, 'With climatic patterns changing across the world, the effects do not end at heatwaves or rains in improper seasons—they bite far deeper into the field of public health. Perhaps one of the most alarming effects of the changes has been the spectacular increase in viral infections, and that even more so in the most vulnerable groups: children and the elderly.' Also read | 10 kinds of viral infections that are common in monsoon Weakened immune systems in children are not equipped enough to fight viral infections.(Pexels) How climate change triggers viral infections: Explaining the connection, Dr Atique Ahemad said, 'Increased temperatures, unpredictable rains, and volatile humidity provide optimal conditions for viruses to survive, mutate, and propagate. Such weather also interferes with conventional patterns of infection, pushing infections past their conventional windows of seasons.' Types of viral infections caused by weather changes: Airborne respiratory viruses: Unsteady weather makes people more vulnerable to respiratory infections like adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (rsv), influenza virus and haemophilus influenzae B. Vector-borne viruses: Excess stagnant water from unseasonal rains elevates the breeding of mosquitoes that cause dengue, malaria and chikungunya. Fecal-oral route infections: Flooding, poor sanitation, and contaminated water cause an increase in hepatitis A and E, hand-foot-mouth disease and enterovirus infections. Gastrointestinal infection: Climate change affects food and water sanitation, leading to viral gastroenteric disease like rotavirus and other viruses that lead to fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Also read | Monsoon season health guide: Expert tips on managing viral fever and infections during rainy season Age-related immune deficiency in older adults can make them prone to viral infections.(Pexels) Why are children and the elderly more vulnerable? 'Both groups have underdeveloped or weakened immune systems and are therefore not very strong in fighting viral infections. Children and infants are in the process of developing immunity, while older persons typically have chronic conditions or age-related immune deficiency,' added the pediatrician. Tips to stay safe: Dr Atique Ahemad shared a few precautionary measures that children and the elderly should follow to stay safe: 1. Water safety: • Drink only filtered, boiled, or clean water. • Avoid contamination of water, particularly in flood-hit areas. • Hold back children from reaching stagnant or contaminated water sources. 2. Mosquito control: • Avoid water collection in and around the home. • Utilise mosquito repellents and bed nets. • Engage in community fogging and larvicide spraying activities. Also read | How viral infections interact with human bodies: Study 3. Respiratory hygiene: • Social isolation of sick respiratory cases. • Prevent droplet-based transmission by use of masks. • Practice good hand hygiene, particularly before meals and after visiting the toilet. 4. Immunisation: Vaccination continues to be one of the most useful tools against climate-induced viral epidemics. • Influenza vaccine: Injection every year for older individuals and children. • Hepatitis A vaccine: Administered at over 1 year old; also recommended in older adults. • Rotavirus vaccine: Routine childhood immunization. • Haemophilus influenzae B (Hib) vaccine: Safeguards against meningitis and pneumonia in children. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Deanne thought her one-year-old daughter only had a cold. The reality was much much worse - and her little girl is still suffering agonising symptoms months later
A mum has revealed the horrifying moment her six-week-old baby girl went limp and stopped breathing less than two days after catching a cold. Adelaide nurse and mother-of-two Deanne Tingey thought her little girl, Winter, was suffering from a common cold in May last year. The 27-year-old told Daily Mail Australia that her daughter's initial symptoms included a runny nose and a slight cough. But as the day progressed, she started to go downhill. Ms Tingey said Winter wasn't eating as much as usual and her cough had developed, prompting her to book an appointment with her doctor. 'By the time we got to the GP, which was 2pm the following day, Winter had not fed at all in the morning and only had one wet nappy,' Ms Tingey said. 'My GP told me to take her straight to the emergency department. So from his office we went to the hospital.' Ms Tingey said by the time they arrived, Winter was struggling to breathe, drowsy, limp and gasping for air. In less than 24 hours, Winter was fighting for her life and was taken directly to the Resus Bay - a dedicated space in hospital emergency departments designed to provide treatment for patients with critical or life-threatening conditions. 'They put her on high-flow oxygen and put a gastric tube in her straight away,' Ms Tingey said. 'They started giving her Panadol, taking bloods, swabbing her and said she had the classic signs of RSV.' Doctors discovered Winter was suffering from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - a common illness that causes respiratory infections, especially in babies and young kids. The virus can also lead to serious illnesses including bronchiolitis and pneumonia. While most people experience mild, cold-like symptoms, RSV can be fatal for infants or cause serious complications and long-term respiratory problems into adulthood. 'I kind of felt like a failure, because being a nurse, I should have looked out for those signs,' Ms Tingey said. 'Just watching her struggle so badly, it was absolutely heartbreaking. It's actually one of the worst things that I've ever seen.' Ms Tingey remembers the doctors explaining that the 'entire ward was full of babies with RSV'. Doctors discharged Winter 24 hours after she had arrived at hospital - a decision Ms Tingey felt was wrong. The concerned mother rushed her baby back to the hospital once more, just six hours after being discharged when she started to go blue and was very limp. 'I was hesitant to take her home, but I agreed to take her home because I had doctors telling me she'll be fine at home,' Ms Tingey said. 'As a nurse I felt annoyed at myself but when it's your own child you don't think about it in nursing terms. In that moment I was a mother, not a nurse. 'But there was a part of me that thought this is too early. I'm just glad that I took her back.' Ms Tingey stayed in the hospital full-time with Winter for another week as she received treatment while her mum looked after her young son. Winter developed bronchiolitis - a chest infection that affects the small airways in the lungs - as a result of the RSV. She would also stop breathing during her sleep and had to wear an overnight sock that monitored her oxygen levels. Now, Winter, aged one, suffers from a chronic cough, still stops breathing during her sleep, has difficulties swallowing and has a rattling sound in her chest. She also has to drink thickened milk and thickened water to stop her from choking when she drinks as her airway kept collapsing when she had RSV. Winter is set to have a surgery to secure her airway, known as a tracheoplasty, once she gains another two kilograms and reaches 10kg. Ms Tingey described her little girl as an 'absolute firecracker' who is 'full of sass'. The young mum said she wants to raise awareness of RSV and urged parents across the country to learn how to recognise the early signs. 'The amount of people that still don't even know what RSV is, blows my mind,' Ms Tingey said. 'Please know what the signs and symptoms are. Know that there's help available and get your child checked early if they start to sniffle or look like they're sick.' She also urged parents to 'advocate' for their children and to trust their gut instincts when they feel something my not be right. Cases of RSV are expected to surge as Australia heads into the cooler months, with RSV awareness week marked on the first week of winter from June 1 to 7. RSV is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and result in more hospitalisations in infants and young children than influenza 1, 2, 3 and 4. In Australia, infants under 12 months are more than 12 times as likely to be admitted to hospital with RSV than those aged between one and four years old. Last year, more than 170,000 RSV cases were reported, with 50 per cent of those in infants and children aged between zero and four years old. To date, more than 50,000 cases of RSV have been reported since the beginning of the year. Babies with mild symptoms of RSV need small, regular amounts of fluid including breastmilk or infant formula. A parent should call Triple Zero or got o a hospital emergency department immediately if their child is showing severe symptoms. Severe symptoms include difficulty breathing, grunting noises while breathing, dehydration - when a child is not taking in enough fluids - and blue-coloured lips or skin.
