Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is one of the common viral infections most children experience before their second birthday. For most, RSV manifests as a mild cold. However, for some, the virus can cause serious respiratory problems and is the number one cause of hospitalizations for infants under one year. While fever is often seen with viral infections, RSV can occur without this classic symptom, especially in specific populations. This brings up questions about how to identify and control the virus effectively.

RSV is a contagious virus that causes respiratory infections. It is spread through direct contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva, mucus, or nasal discharge, and can also be spread by contaminated surfaces. In the U.S., RSV infections typically occur between late fall and early spring, though the exact timing may vary by region.

As per the words of Dr. Arun Chowdary Kotaru, Head and Senior Consultant of Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine, "RSV is the most common cause of hospitalization in children under age one. Infants with severe RSV may require oxygen or intravenous fluids, but most recover within a few days."

Recognizing the Symptoms of RSV

The symptoms of RSV take four to six days after exposure before they manifest. It manifests as follows: initial signs are very similar to a mild cold, such as sneezing, a runny nose, cough, and decreased appetite. Beyond that, infants may present with irritability, tiredness, and labored breathing. The symptoms mainly manifest in stages rather than at once.

When RSV spreads to the lower respiratory tract, it results in bronchiolitis or pneumonia with wheezing or barking cough. Parents should continue to be cautious since these can become medical issues.

Can RSV Occur Without Fever?

According to Dr. Kotaru, fever is not a specific symptom of RSV. "Fever can be absent, especially in infants and young children. The immune response is variable, and in some cases of RSV, symptoms are only mild, for example, congestion or cough," he notes. In some populations, the incidence of RSV without fever is higher.

Infants less than six months old: These young patients might experience apnea, or cessation of breathing, or be generally lethargic and not display fever.

Aged: Seniors have much milder symptoms, such as a runny nose and general fatigue, but no elevated temperature.

Other immunocompromised individuals: Immunocompromised may not display fever even though they have been infected with RSV.

How to Detect RSV Without Fever

Diagnosis of RSV may be challenging if the patient is not febrile. Dr. Vipin Kumar Consultant Pulmonologist, says that "As in some cases, RSV infection may even present with mild or even atypical features; this becomes difficult to diagnose and therefore the diagnosis of RSV infection without fever requires a combination of physical examination, medical history, and laboratory tests".

Common diagnostic techniques include:

1. Rapid Antigen Tests: These tests detect RSV antigens in respiratory secretions and give quick results.

2. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): PCR tests are more sensitive and identify RSV genetic material.

3. Viral Cultures: Though less commonly used due to time constraints, these tests confirm the diagnosis by growing the virus in a laboratory setting.

Treatment for RSV

There is no specific antiviral treatment for RSV, but supportive care is the cornerstone of management. In most cases, RSV resolves on its own within one to two weeks. Dr. Kotaru advises focusing on symptom management to ensure comfort and recovery:

• Hydration: Encourage fluid intake to prevent dehydration.
• Nasal Suction: Clearing mucus can ease breathing.
• Humidifiers: Humidification in the air assists to calm the cough and helps break up the mucus.
• Fever Management: If the child has fever, then there can be medications prescribed by a doctor such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

In more serious cases, children are admitted to hospitals to receive oxygen therapy or respiratory assistance.

Steps to Prevent RSV

Prevention is essential, especially for the infant and older adult populations who are more susceptible to complications. The most important steps include the following:

• Frequent handwashing with soap and water
• Avoid close contact with persons who are sick
• Clean high-touch surfaces and disinfect frequently
• Limit exposure to crowded areas during RSV season.

Importance to protect high-risk populations, according to Dr. Kumar. "Simple precautions can significantly reduce the risk of RSV transmission, especially in households with infants or elderly members."

When to Seek Medical Attention

Dr Vipin says, "It is important to seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or if you experience difficulty breathing, chest pain, or severe headache. Early detection and treatment can help prevent complications and improve outcomes." Parents and caregivers should be vigilant about worsening symptoms. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice:

• Difficulty breathing or wheezing.
• Signs and symptoms of dehydration, including parched mouth, or decreased rate of urination.
• Ongoing irritability or lethargy.

Early evaluation and treatment also prevent complications as well as allow for better care.

The virus is common, but can manifest differently in different people, sometimes without associated fever. Knowing atypical symptoms and consulting a medical professional promptly is vital, especially for those already vulnerable, such as infants, the elderly, and those who have compromised immune systems. Being informed about RSV and taking steps ahead of the illness will make families able to move through the illness with greater clarity and less impact from it.

Dr Vipin Kumar is Consultant Pulmonology at Max Super Speciality Hospital Patparganj in India

Dr. Arun Chowdary Kotaru is the Head and Senior Consultant of Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine at Artemis Hospitals in India

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, over 1.2 billion people ages 30 to 79 have hypertension. The number has increased from 650 million in 1990 to 1.2 billion in 2021. This increase is attributed to many factors, including lifestyle factors, which include salty indulgence, stress, and screen time which has been increased. These three impact your blood pressure levels, know how.

What Are The Three S Worsening Your Blood Pressure?

Salt

As per the Harvard Heart Publishing, an average American consumes the equivalent of about 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt per day, which is 50% more than the recommended amount.

About a third of healthy people and about 60% of people with high blood pressure are salt sensitive.

How does salt affects blood pressure?

When you consume too much sodium, your body holds on to extra water to balance the sodium levels. This added fluid increases the volume of blood in your vessels, which in turn raises your blood pressure and forces your heart to work harder. High sodium intake can also reduce the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications. For example, diuretics help eliminate excess sodium and water, while vasodilators work by relaxing the blood vessels. However, a high-sodium diet makes your body retain fluid again, refilling those relaxed vessels and undoing the medication's effects.

Stress

As per the official publication of State Medical Society of Wisconsin, stress can cause hypertension through repeated blood pressure elevations as well as by stimulation of the nervous system to produce large amounts of vasoconstricting hormones that increase blood pressure. Factors affecting blood pressure through stress include white coat hypertension, job strain, race, social environment, and emotional distress.

As per National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, around 50 million American adults live with hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure over 139 mm Hg or diastolic pressure over 89 mm Hg. In about 95% of these cases, the condition is classified as "essential" hypertension, meaning there’s no single identifiable cause. However, experts agree that multiple factors—including stress—can contribute to rising blood pressure in these individuals.

Screentime

As per a 2024 study published in Cureus, hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. The study links the increased accessibility of smartphones with the increasing hypertension.

This study explored the relationship between screen time and blood pressure (BP) among young adults.

The study also noted that higher screen time was more common among individuals using multiple devices. The prevalence of elevated BP in the sample was 35.8%, aligning with national data and raising concerns about the cardiovascular health of young adults.

Previous studies support these concerns. For instance, Nang et al. and Martinez-Gomez et al. linked prolonged TV viewing to higher BP and an adverse cardiovascular risk profile in adolescents. However, these relied on self-reported data. Other risk factors, such as age, gender, obesity, inactivity, and substance use, have also been linked to hypertension.

Women’s reproductive health is a sensitive subject. Even though there have been many advancements in women’s healthcare, large gaps in research and medical well-being of women have been observed. The general lack of information regarding women’s healthcare and education have also been highlighted in the recent years.

While you may think it is not a matter of urgency, a new report found a very concerning toxin in tampons, levels of which were higher than what is even allowed in drinking water.

A new report from two groups, the Women's Environmental Network (WEN) and Pesticide Action Network UK, has raised serious concerns. They found harmful chemicals in many of the menstrual products sold in regular stores across Britain. The study was particularly worried about finding pesticides, especially glyphosate, which is the most common weed killer used worldwide, in these products that women use in a very sensitive part of their bodies.

Disturbing Levels of Pesticides Detected

The findings are quite shocking. Tampons are a largely used menstruation product, which soaks the menstrual blood by insertion in the vaginal canal. The World Health Organization, a global health authority, has said that glyphosate probably causes cancer. Even more alarmingly, one box of tampons had levels of glyphosate that were 40 times higher than what's legally allowed in drinking water!

It's thought this happens because the pesticide might be sprayed on the cotton crops that are used to make tampons. The report also found another dangerous chemical called chlorpyrifos in some tampons. This is an insecticide that's actually banned in the UK because it can harm the brain and nervous system.

The report was very clear about how serious this is: they said that for some chemicals, there's no safe amount, so any trace found in period products should be less than what can even be detected.

Direct Threat to Health

There's worry about how these chemicals might affect health. This is because a part of the body that absorbs things very easily, the vagina, lets chemicals skip the body's natural cleaning systems and go straight into the blood. People are saying this isn't just careless, it's actually dangerous. They also feel it's wrong that these kinds of chemicals are still in period products today.

Lack of Regulation and Impact on Farmers

The report pointed out a major problem: there are no specific rules in the UK for these products. Manufacturers don't have to tell you what's in their products, and there are no laws to stop pesticide residue from ending up in the final product you buy.

The issue also affects cotton farmers. The report highlighted that "cotton farmers are being exposed to toxic pesticides at concerning levels." Many of these farmers are women, and they face health risks every day from working with these dangerous pesticides both on their farms and even in their homes.

Demands for Clearer Information and Change

People are strongly demanding that the industry be more open. It's simply not okay that users don't know what's in products they use on such private parts of their bodies. There's an urgent need for companies to be transparent (show all ingredients), take accountability (be responsible for their products), and make real changes in how things are done. This is because everyone who has a period deserves better and safer products.

The report asks the government to act quickly:

• Test period products very strictly.
• Make it a legal rule for companies to list every ingredient and extra chemical.
• Include organic, disposable period products in free school programs.

Concern regarding pollution and how it affects our health is a worry that affects many of us worldwide. As years pass on by, the pollution levels are also increasing, and so is our mortality risk. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that exposure to air pollution is strongly linked with stroke, ischaemic heart disease, lung diseases etc. However, these are not the only things you must worry about when it comes to air pollution exposure. A new study shows that it could also affect the way our brain functions.

A study from Italy, published in a science journal called iScience, found a really important clue in our genes. It seems that when we breathe in polluted air, it can actually change how our genes work in the brain. Think of it like flipping a switch that creates the perfect conditions for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's to start growing.

Early Warning Signs and High-Risk Groups

The researchers saw some worrying changes even in young adults. Their brain tissue showed signs of DNA damage that looked a lot like what you'd see in someone with Alzheimer's – but decades before they would normally be diagnosed. This is a huge red flag.

Certain jobs also put people at a higher risk. If you're a miner, factory worker, or driver, you're exposed to more polluted air. Even people who work with plastics face a hidden danger from tiny particles called nanoparticles that can get into their brains.

But here's some good news: this discovery could mean doctors can check for these changes without needing to do anything invasive, like surgery. They might be able to test for something called extracellular vesicles. These are like tiny packages that carry material from damaged brain cells. So, if we can test for these packages, it could give us an early warning sign from the brain itself.

Understanding the Complexities and Taking Precautions

It's clear that being generally unhealthy and breathing polluted air from a young age can increase your risk of these brain conditions. However, we still need a lot more research to fully understand how everything is connected. Experts from News Medical have pointed out that studying air pollution is tricky because the air we breathe in the real world is a mix of many different pollutants.

To help protect yourself on days when pollution levels are high, organizations like Asthma + Lung UK suggest some simple steps:

• Stay indoors as much as possible.
• Avoid exercising outside, especially vigorous activity.
• If you're walking, try to stay away from busy roads with heavy traffic.
• Keep your car windows closed when driving in traffic.
• If you do want to be active outdoors, try to do it earlier in the day, as the air tends to be cleaner then.

Looking Ahead: Prevention and Policy

There's a big call for more research to understand how air pollution affects younger people and other parts of our brain's thinking abilities. The results of this research could lead to exciting new ways to prevent these diseases. It could also push for better safety rules in workplaces, stricter environmental standards to clean up our air, and even new laws to protect public health from air pollution.