RSV, ‘rapidly spreading’ delta variant in Houston-area children

HOUSTON – More children were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Texas children’s campuses Wednesday night than ever before, and most of them also have respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, according to the hospital.

The respiratory virus typically causes more pediatric hospitalizations and deaths worldwide than any other virus. Last year, like other viruses, RSV was largely dormant.

Now it’s back with a vengeance.

“What may be happening is that people have become more sensitive because they haven’t seen this virus for a while,” said Dr Pedro Piedra of Baylor College of Medicine. “Once it was introduced to our community, it spread quickly. He has been in our community for about a month.

The seasonal virus, which is most dangerous to young infants, especially those six months and younger, usually peaks in winter and disappears in spring.

Forty-five children are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 at Texas Children’s, and at least 25 children on its three campuses have both COVID and RSV, the hospital told KPRC2.

A d

Thousands of other children have been seen on TCH campuses for RSV, but have not been admitted.

The virus is spread by droplets and begins with cold-like symptoms. Most healthy people and even most babies, according to the Texas Children website, will not need hospitalization.

Seek medical care “if your baby is having difficulty breathing or breathing apnea,” the website reads.

“It’s not asthma, but it causes major respiratory distress in young infants,” Piedra added.

He said the security measures that protect us from COVID also protect us from RSV and other viruses.

“If you know people are sick, stay away from them because it might not be (COVID), but there are many other respiratory viruses that can impact very young people.