RSV .

This particular virus has gotten a lot of attention in recent years because of the harmful effects it can have on small children. In severe cases, death has even been reported.

That is really scary to most parents. RSV is rather common though. 50% of children will get this virus before or by the time they turn one, and almost 100% get it by the time they reach the age of two. It may just seem like a really bad cold, and was actually the RSV bug. It can also cause pneumonia in small children.

Bronchitis in children is very common after the child’s first RSV infection. Between 25-40% will develop bronchitis or pneumonia.

However, only about 2% will need hospitalization, and this usually happens when a baby is less than 6 months old. Premature babies are more at risk for having RSV than babies who were delivered around their due date.

The RSV virus is known to cause infection in the respiratory system. Once the body has fought this off once, it is possible to get it repeatedly. This due to a weakened immunity, however, each time it is contracted the symptoms are usually less severe.

When the immune system is down, this is when other infections are likely to be contracted, bronchitis being one of them. This disorder usually occurs in the winter time and is the most common respiratory problem among people of all ages.

Usually bronchitis is caused by a virus that turns into an infection. The symptoms of bronchitis can linger even though the bronchitis is no longer an infection.

Bacteria caused bronchitis occurs less frequently, but it can happen. In most cases, it is a result of an upper infection in your respiratory system. Sometime bronchitis can be caused by both a virus and bacteria, which usually results in more severe symptoms.

When bronchitis in children occurs after RSV, they will have a wheezier cough than before and will produce more mucous.