Doctor & Mom Shares What Every Parent Needs to Know About RSV This Winter

Photo credit: @callmedoctor.p RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus, is a common virus that primarily affects the respiratory tract, often causing cold-like symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. In young children, especially those with developing immune systems, RSV can lead to more severe respiratory issues like bronchiolitis or pneumonia. As winter approaches, RSV cases typically increase, raising concerns for parents of young children. BlackDoctor.org spoke with Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins, a new mom and board-certified OB-GYN, about how she navigates these challenges while balancing her medical career, a growing social media platform, and caring for her baby. Understanding RSV and Its Risks for Infants RSV poses serious risks to infants, particularly those under one year old.  “RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, can be particularly dangerous for infants because their immune systems are still developing. In the first few weeks and months, their airways are very small, making it easy for the virus to cause breathing difficulties. If their airways become inflamed, it’s harder for them to get enough oxygen, which can lead to serious complications like pneumonia. For some babies, especially those with underlying health issues, this can mean hospitalization, oxygen support, and other interventions,” Dr. Perkins shares. As winter...