Question:
I am concern about my 1yr old grandson. He is constantly sick with colds and ear infection and his mother always has him on antibiotic or giving him tylonal or some cold medicine and he been in the emergency room several times. Once he stayed over a week with rsv problem. What is going on with this child and why would a doctor keep giving him antibiotic. I told mother she is abusing the medicine and his immune system is weak because of the medicine abuse of antibiotic. She said I stupid, so am I wrong or should I be concern. She will not let me take him to my doctor for second opinion. Please can someone help me or am I doom to see my grandson sick all the time
Answer:


Answer:
Hey Guest, how are you doing?

An Pediatric infectious disease specialist's evaluation may be indicated if ribavirin therapy is being considered or if the viral origin of the infant's acute respiratory illness is uncertain. Supportive care is the mainstay of therapy for RSV infection.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, which manifests primarily as bronchiolitis and/or viral pneumonia, is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract (LRT) infection in infants and young children. Virtually all children have had at least one RSV infection by their third birthday and given the prevalence and potential severity of this condition, it is not surprising that the
has targeted RSV for vaccine development.

RSV infection is limited to the respiratory tract. Initial infection in young infants or children frequently involves the LRT and most often manifests as the clinical entity of bronchiolitis.

The illness may begin with Upper Respirtory Tract (URT) symptoms and progress rapidly over 1-2 days to the development of diffuse small airway disease characterized by cough, coryza, wheezing and rales, low-grade fever (<101°F), and decreased oral intake. The incidence of concomitant or secondary serious bacterial infection in association with RSV infection appears to be quite low (<1%), except for otitis media, which may occur in up to 40% of cases.

Reinfection with RSV occurs at all ages; however, with recurrent infection and increasing age, RSV infections are more limited to the URT. RSV URT infection is more severe than the common cold, as evidenced by the 7- to 10-day duration of illness and by the finding in one study of adults with RSV that the mean absence from work is 6 days.

Reinfection occurs throughout life, with the disease becoming limited to the URT in persons older than 3 years. Severe RSV disease has been reported in older children and adults with severe underlying immunodeficiency disorders (eg, bone marrow transplantation), and RSV LRT disease has been reported in elderly persons.

In the community setting, a number of factors have been associated with increased risk of acquiring RSV disease, including the following:
Lower socioeconomic status Crowding (
³2 children per bedroom) Day care attendance Older siblings in preschool or school Being in a multiple birth set (eg, twin, triplet)

Most infants who are hospitalized with RSV infection are unable to tolerate milk or feedings well and frequently vomit or spit up. Treatment must be initiated promptly at the onset of the infection to inhibit the replicating virus effectively.

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's
and
. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles
and
.

Best wishes,
The Prison Hospital

Prisoner: Look here, doctor! You've already removed my spleen, tonsils, adenoids, and one of my kidneys. I only came to see if you could get me out of this place!

Doctor: I am, bit by bit.

-- Aha! Jokes