In Ranchi, hospitals are seeing more children under five years old with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections. RSV can cause serious lung problems like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Doctors think the virus may have changed, making it more dangerous this year.
At Rani Children Hospital, 50 children with RSV are in the ICU, and about 40 kids with breathing issues visit daily. Balpan Children Hospital has six very sick children in critical care and sees 25 outpatients each day. Orchid Hospital’s pediatric ICU has three children, with around 10 kids coming in daily for coughs. Raj Hospital has no ICU cases but treats three RSV patients in their outpatient department. Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) has about 15 children in intensive care due to RSV.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar from Rani Children Hospital says some kids need high-flow oxygen because their symptoms are severe. He mentions that RSV is common in winter and is a type of pneumonia. Parents should not panic but should see a doctor if their child has trouble breathing.
Dr. Anitabh Kumar from Santevita Hospital explains that children with weak immune systems are more likely to get RSV. The virus spreads through the eyes, nose, and mouth, mainly affecting the lungs. This year, the virus seems to have changed, which might explain the rise in cases.
Doctors advise parents to keep good hygiene, avoid crowded places, and watch for early signs of illness to help prevent RSV from spreading.