If you have a newborn, you won't be happy to hear that RSV is What's Going Around.  We talked with Dr. Shari Eich a pediatrician at the Main McGreevy Clinic Avera in Sioux Falls and she said right after Christmas she saw an explosion of RSV in babies under the age of 2 months.

RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus is an upper and lower respiratory virus that settles in the lungs of infants. It causes more problems for babies because their immune system is so tender. Once they get older, McGreevy Pediatrician Dr. Shari Eich says their body recognizes it and is able to fight it off better. It's spread easily from person to person by coughing and sneezing.

Things to watch for:
*Their ribs sucking in when they breath
*Breathing really fast. (more than 50 times a minute)
*Nose flaring when they breath
*and they're not eating
The most serious complication is apnea, when they stop breathing all together.

Dr. Eich says, "The other thing about RSV is usually causes a lot of mucus so for babies who are strictly breathing through their nose that means they can't eat very well either."

Then dehydrations becomes a concern.

Dr. Eich says, "A good rule to follow, if your baby is 2 months and under and has a cold... always bring them in to a doctor. They just don't tolerate being sick very well."

Dr. Eich says since RSV is a virus there is no specific treatment.  She says asthma medication tends to help stop the wheezing and tylenol will help for the pain and low grade fever. One other thing parents can do is to suction out their babies nose and use a nasal saline to help them breath so they can eat.

For more information www.avera.org