Webinar: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in L.A. County

December 21, 2022December 21, 2022 LA Best Babies Network

Health officials are ringing the alarm over the “tripledemic” of COVID-19, Influenza (flu) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and are urging everyone to take precautionary steps to slow the spread. CDC surveillance has shown an increase in RSV detections and RSV-associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations in multiple U.S. regions, with some regions nearing seasonal peak levels.

The California Department of Public Health says RSV activity remains elevated throughout the state. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is seeing a spike of respiratory specimens testing positive for RSV compared to previous years.

What is RSV?

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants, older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms:

Runny nose
Decrease in appetite
Coughing
Sneezing
Fever
Wheezing

In very young infants with RSV, the only symptoms may be:

Irritability
Decreased activity
Breathing difficulties

In this webinar — hosted by LA Best Babies Network on December 13, 2022, for staff in our network of home visiting organizations and Welcome Baby hospitals — Dr. Paul A. Krogstad, a pediatrics Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, discusses:

Differential diagnosis of RSV and other viral infections
Outpatient therapies provided to RSV patients
Effective prevention methods
Strategies for supporting families and young children/infants with RSV
The role vaccines play in RSV prevention and treatment

About the presenter:

Paul A. Krogstad, MD, FAAP, FIDSA, is a Professor with a joint appointment in the Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular and Pharmacology at UCLA. His research has largely focused on molecular virology and the pathogenesis of viral diseases. His studies include evaluation of new treatments for HIV infected children and adolescents, and the discovery of antiviral agents for enterovirus infections. In addition, he has collaborated with others in the study of Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis).

Watch the webinar recording here, and don’t miss the links to related resources below: