TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A pediatrician at National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH, 台大醫院) warned on Thursday (Jan. 23) that the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a significant threat to infants and young children during the Lunar New Year travel season. Pediatrician Huang Li-min (黃立民) highlighted the increased risk of asthma following infection, urging caution as families gather across regions.
Huang also described RSV as a severe respiratory virus, second only to influenza and COVID-19. He noted that infants infected with RSV could develop serious conditions like bronchitis and pneumonia. The doctor stressed that RSV can survive on surfaces for up to two days, longer than influenza, and pointed out the heightened risk of transmission to infants and the elderly from adults who often experience only mild symptoms.
The pediatrician explained that infants, with their smaller lung capacity, face a higher risk of respiratory obstruction and severe symptoms if infected with RSV. Complications can worsen with secondary bacterial infections, posing a substantial health threat. Research indicates that RSV infection during infancy can multiply asthma risk due to the virus's tendency to skew the immune system toward allergic reactions, affecting respiratory development.
Huang emphasized the importance of early protective measures, as RSV not only increases the risk of allergic diseases but can also cause lasting damage to respiratory health. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control noted that RSV spreads through particles and droplets from an infected person's breathing, talking, coughing, or sneezing. Touching contaminated surfaces and then contacting the eyes, nose, or mouth also facilitates transmission.
As RSV poses ongoing threats, especially during the festive season, experts urge families to adopt preventive measures to safeguard vulnerable children.
