Community› The Bump Message Boards› Babies: 9 - 12 Months
Babies: 9 - 12 Months
New Discussion

RSV vs. a cold-- how to tell?

teacherjessteacherjess member
in Babies: 9 - 12 Months

DD was exposed to RSV at daycare a few days ago and one of her fellow playmates at daycare is in the hospital with pneumonia and RSV. We left the state this morning to come and are spending two weeks with my parents in northern Indiana. On our way, I called the pedi office and they said if she was showing any signs of a cold, to bring her in.

Well, she's always showing signs of a cold. She's had a perpetually runny nose since Sept. And the nurse said RSV is just like a cold. So how do I know when to bring her in? When I asked the nurse this, she said if she has any kind of cough, it could then be RSV. But obviously if we bring her in here in Indiana, it would have to be to an urgent-care clinic, which could be a huge deal. Do they actually do anything if they have RSV? I was under the impression that I only had to bring her in if she was wheezing?

I don't want it to sound like I would withhold care if she was ill, but we've been to the doctor five times since Thanksgiving for various colds/ear infections/shots/weigh-ins and I am not looking forward to a five-hour wait at an urgent care clinic here to be told that her runny nose is just a runny nose. At what point should I see a doctor?

Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
Report Reply to Post

Re: RSV vs. a cold-- how to tell?

  • Mrs.SaxyMrs.Saxy member

    When to Call the Doctor

    Call the doctor if your child has any of these symptoms:

    • high fever with ill appearance
    • thick nasal discharge that is yellow, green, or gray
    • worsening cough or cough that produces yellow, green, or gray mucus

    Call also if you think your child might be dehydrated.

    https://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/rsv.html

    DS was exposed and basically the hospital told us that the course of treatment for a cold and rsv is the same unless they develop breathing/coughing issues.

    Just monitor her.  GL

    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers

    Join our wiki and tell us what your baby eats for finger foods.
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • BeckyEBeckyE

    if your child develops a cough that comes on hard and fast, it's probably RSV. RSV is a virus so you can only treat the symptoms. So basically, cough medicine (DM) and albuterol.

    No need to be concerned until the mega cough hits!

    Wishing you the best.

    Report Reply
  • loveisforeverloveisforever

    We had the same scare (DS has a girl in his class that has RSV) and have been to the DR. 2 times this week b/c he kept a low grade fever 100-100.9 and all they keep telling me is the same. RSV is a virus and it has to run its course. The things they told me to look for was a huge spike in temp that seems very high for your dc, when they breath if there nose is sucking in where you can tell they are having to go overboard to breath, they rib cage is sinking in between breath and dc just doesn't seem to get enough air, bluish coloring around lips or face. DS has not eaten solids in 4 days and dr said as long as he is taking bottles and getting plenty of water no problem. Keep dc hydrated. DS was even breathing so fast when he was asleep that it seemed as though he had run a marathon in his sleep.?

    Good luck and ALWAYS when in doubt, call the dr. ?

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"