The RSV Blues

It is almost the end of February. Spring can't come soon enough as far as I am concerned. I am undoubtedly experiencing the RSV blues. This has happened before, so at least this time I am better able to recognize it. I'd like to share it so you can be familiar with its effects and know, too, that this shall pass.

Let me start by sharing my evolution into Pediatric Emergency Nursing. It has happened so fast, and without my awareness, that I am not really sure where to begin. I've been an ER nurse on the evening shift for six years now. I have always been drawn to the Pediatric ER and feel very comfortable caring for Pediatric traumas. I also enjoy triage and all aspects of adult care. I am not really picky about where I work; I figure fate has a hand in placing me just where I need to be. But over time, I began spending more and more time in the Pediatric ER. Today I find myself there more often than not. And I love it!

Winters can be especially grueling. Kids get a plethora of viruses and illnesses that wreak havoc on their little bodies. Many kids get simple coughs and fevers that scare the daylights out of parents, requiring a little more education than the average adult discharge. It can be down right exhausting for everyone involved. But it's that darned RSV that lurks in the shadows, waiting to ravage little airways in a way that nothing else really can.

What is RSV?  Its full name is Respiratory Syncytial Virus. In short, it's a virus that causes cold-like symptoms. The problem is the severity of the congestion can lead to lower respiratory tract infections and/or respiratory distress. Two Web sites with more information are:  RSV Info Center and the CDC. Both Web sites present it as a problem for immunocompromised or chronically ill children, but for the past two years it has been running rampant in all types of children.

Last year, we diagnosed our first case in September, very early for an epidemic to begin. It lasted until almost May. I lost count of the number of children requiring intubation because there were so many. But, I survived and I hoped that this year wouldn't be so hard.

Just like last year, I am fatigued beyond belief right now. The stress of caring for so many sick families is starting to take its toll. It is not uncommon for it to take two weeks for the virus to completely clear up; parents can truly be maxed out. In addition, wheezing and a cough can last even longer. This leads to multiple ER visits and/or admissions. My only salvation is that spring is right around the corner. Soon I will be fixing broken bones under sedation, cleaning up abrasions and giving out helmets to children that have used theirs to prevent a head injury. Every illness has its season.

Ahh, maybe by August my RSV blues will be over and I'll be ready to face it all over again. Until then, I will be suctioning a lot of noses and administering updrafts in an effort to keep this viral monster at bay.