YOUR HEALTH
RSV is a common viral infection
DR. DONOHUE

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am the proud mother of three children, ages 9, 6 and 4 months. I am writing about my 4-monthold. I took her to the doctor for cold symptoms: fever, runny nose, poor appetite. It turned out she tested positive for RSV and had bronchiolitis and an ear infection. The doctor hospitalized her. She was sent home in three days with a nebulizer, which she still has to use. How long will she need to use this? Will you please give me more information on RSV and bronchiolitis? -- J.P.

ANSWER: The bronchioles (BRAWN-key-ols) are the smallest airways. They're connected directly to air sacs, where the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide takes place. Bronchiolitis is inflammation of those small airways. Bronchitis, with which you are familiar, is inflammation of the large airways -- the bronchi. This is the small-airways equivalent. One of the major causes of bronchiolitis is RSV, respiratory syncytial virus. Yearly outbreaks of this infection sweep through North America, mostly in winter months. The highest number of infections occurs in young infants, especially those between 1 month and 6 months. In the United States, around 80,000 infants a year are hospitalized for it.

RSV infection begins much like a common cold, with a runny nose and a low-grade fever. Then a cough develops and then wheezing. Ear infections are common consequences. The RSV infection can plug those small airways and can greatly diminish the infant's oxygen supply. Most illnesses last for a week or two, and then everything returns to normal. Longterm care is rarely, if ever, necessary.

RSV infection happens to older children and adults too, but they don't become as sick as infants, except for the very old. It's older family members who most often bring the infection into the home.

Dr. Donohue -- No. 1203, Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853- 6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient's printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I read with great interest your reply to the writer whose father had Parkinson's disease. I applaud your recommendation that the writer's father would benefit from both physical and occupational therapy.

I would like to take this opportunity to inform your readers that occupational therapists do a lot more for patients than simply provide adaptive equipment. Occupational therapy provides people with the skills for living. These skills include activities of daily living, work and leisure. Those skills include eating, control of bladder and rectum, bathing, dressing, mobility, locomotion, communication and social cognition.

In addition to providing equipment for overcoming physical deficits, occupational therapists provide instruction in how to get out of bed, how to stand, how to walk and how to manage muscle freezing. -- K.A.

ANSWER: Occupational therapists are medicine's unsung heroes. They don't get the attention they deserve. I am happy to pass your words on to readers so they can appreciate a field of medicine that often goes unappreciated and make use of it.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall. com. 2006 North America Syndicate Inc. All Rights Reserved