CA Our three surviving quadruplets had been home only three weeks when all three nearly died before our eyes. Prior to this time their health had been relatively uneventful. Despite an eight week premature birth, they required no respiratory support, remaining several weeks in the hospital merely to gain weight. They survived their bout with pneumonia, and seem to have no lasting effects, but Mom and Dad will never forget the experience.
Viruses are an important cause of pneumonia in the pediatric population, particularly in infants.
In some cases, however, viral pneumonia develops, and can be life-threatening. It is this serious illness which I wish to address in this article. RSV occurs chiefly in yearly epidemics, primarily in the winter months. Infections are uncommon before six weeks of age - breast feeding seems to be somewhat protective. Extremely contagious, it spreads quickly in crowded conditions like day-care centers or home nurseries of multiples.