Ten Ways to Help Protect Your Premature Baby Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

1. Always wash your hands before holding your child, and insist that others do, too.


2. Wash your baby’s toys, clothes, play areas and bedding often.


3. Do not share personal items (pacifiers, cups, forks, spoons, towels, washcloths).


4. Minimize your preemie’s exposure to the virus by keeping him or her away from:

• Anyone with a cold or “flu-like” illness - yourself, caregivers, siblings and strangers


• Brothers and sisters, especially if they have a runny nose, cold or fever, or attend day care or school


• Crowded areas, such as shopping centers and restaurants


• Group day care situations during RSV season

5. Never let anyone smoke around the baby.


6. Call your pediatrician right away if your preemie:

• Develops a cold


• Has fast breathing or breathing problems, wheezing, worsening cough, or blue appearance around the mouth or fingernails (a sign of low oxygen levels in the blood)


• Develops a fever of more than 100.4°F in the first three months, more than 101°F between 3 and 6 months, or more than 103°F after 6 months

7. Ask your doctor about Synagis^® (palivizumab), a medication injected monthly during fall and winter to prevent severe RSV infection in high-risk children. (See below for important information about Synagis.)


8. If hospitalized during RSV season, talk to your health care professional about your preemie receiving a Synagis dose during his or her hospital stay or 48 to 72 hours before discharge, and a follow-up shot every 30 days until RSV season ends.


9. If your baby has an RSV infection, make sure he or she gets plenty of rest and drinks lots of clear fluids.


10. Ask your doctor about getting an annual influenza vaccine for your high-risk infant (beginning at 6 months of age) and all close contacts.

Sources: American Academy of Pediatricians (www.aap.org), March of Dimes (www.marchofdimes.com).

About Synagis
Synagis is indicated for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in pediatric patients at high-risk of RSV disease, which is prominent in the Northern Hemisphere during the winter months. Synagis is a humanized monoclonal antibody given by an intramuscular injection once a month during the RSV season. Synagis was approved in 1998 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); in 1999, by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency; and in 2002, by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. In 2003, the FDA expanded the U.S. label for Synagis for use in young children with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease at risk of RSV disease. To date, Synagis has been approved in 62 countries, including the United States. Synagis has been used in more than half a million babies since 1998.

Adverse events with Synagis may include upper respiratory tract infection, ear infection, fever, runny nose, rash, diarrhea, cough, vomiting, gastrointestinal upset and wheezing. Very rare cases of severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis (less than 1 case per 100,000 patients) have been reported following re-exposure to Synagis. Rare severe, acute hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported on initial exposure or re-exposure to Synagis. Synagis should not be used in patients with a history of a severe prior reaction to Synagis or its components.

For full prescribing information for Synagis, see the company’s website at http://www.medimmune.com/products/synagis/index.asp.

10 Ways to Help Protect Your Premature Baby Against RSV – Long Version
Click here to download (PDF)

10 Ways to Help Protect Your Premature Baby Against RSV – Short Version
Click here to download (PDF)