It was supposed to be a happy and festive time, but this Singapore family were unable to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa this year. Their 6-month-old baby, Zafri, fell ill, and ended up being admitted in the hospital for 5 days.
Singapore baby gets RSV infection
Mommy Ida put up a heartfelt Facebook post recently, sharing her experience, and urging parents to be more careful about hospital infections. She writes, “After 5 days in the hospital (3 days in normal ward and two days in High Dependency ward), Zafri can finally go home today, despite the occasional fever and the prolonged coughs…Unfortunately, no raya for us this year because doctor advised us to not go visit or accept visitors for at least a week or till his followup checkup…”
This mom advises all parents to keep their healthy children away from hospitals. She reveals she learnt her lesson when she took baby Zafri to visit his cousin in the hospital, “Keep your healthy babies and young children away from the hospital where all the viruses linger. I was always careful to not bring them but (on) that particular day, it slipped my mind as we were really nearby. ”
PHOTO: FACEBOOK/ IDA ALEP
“Just one mistake and one visit. We visited his cousin who was only diagnosed with RSV a few days later… By then, it’s too late. Considering its contagious nature, Zafri caught the virus almost immediately. He showed symptoms that same night. Zafri was also tested RSV positive after he was warded.”
The poor little baby ended up so sick that he had to be put on drips, and had a really tough time breathing. His mommy recounts the horror, “I remember that one night, the oxygen alarm went off because his oxygen level dropped. He had to sleep with oxygen mask that night. I’ve seen my son breathless and traumatised by all the treatments. It’ll break any parents heart. We’re lucky to see these smiles again but some parents waited months after months before they could see them.”
She reminds parents that it’s always a good idea to keep little children away from sick people, even if it may seem offensive to some. A seemingly minor illness can escalate into something major, “For instance, RSV, it’s just flu and cough for adults, but in kids with diseases that affect the lungs, heart, or immune system, RSV infections can lead to other more serious illnesses like bronchitis or pneumonia…It would take weeks for them to recover.”
PHOTO: FACEBOOK/ IDA ALEP
Thank you, Mommy Ida for letting us share your story. We are sure that it will remind many parents to take necessary precautions against such infections…Praying that baby Zafri gets well real soon!
RSV infections
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common, and very contagious virus that infects the respiratory tract (lungs and breathing passages) of children, usually before the age of 2.
In most children, the infection causes nothing more than a cold. But in premature babies and kids with diseases that affect the lungs, heart, or immune system, RSV infections can lead to other more serious illnesses.
Warning signs of RSV infections:
- Trouble breathing
- Cough producing yellow, green, or grey mucus
- Unusually upset or inactive
- Refuses to breastfeed or bottle-feed
- Signs of dehydration — lack of tears when crying, little or no urine in the diaper for 6 hours, and cool, dry skin
- If your baby is very tired, breathes rapidly, or has a blue tint to the lips or fingernails, get medical attention immediately.
RSV can be easily spread by touching infected people or surfaces, so washing hands well and often is key in preventing it. Try to wash your hands and your kids’ hands after having any contact with someone who has cold symptoms.
And as mommy Ida puts it, “If your child is sick, be a responsible parent too. Don’t bring them to children’s play areas and what not! Also, never allow a sick person to kiss or carry your child. Never compromise your child’s health for the sake of someone else’s few seconds of happiness.”
True that!
(Source: WebMD, KidsHealth)
Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore