Infants face severe respiratory risks from the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) when adults and older siblings unwittingly transmit germs into the home, according to medical experts speaking at the International Conference on Obstetrics and Gynecology 2026 held on August 28 in Hanoi. While adult infections often resemble a mild cold, the resulting pathogen transfer can trigger rapid respiratory distress, bronchiolitis, and long-term wheezing disorders in babies under six months old.
RSV Transmission Risks for Newborns at Home
Newborns contract RSV primarily through close contact and respiratory droplets carried by family members who show few or no symptoms. According to Dr. Nguyen Ba My Nhi, former deputy director of Tu Du Hospital, adults often bring pathogens home after running errands, while older children pick up the virus at daycare or preschool facilities. In Vietnamese households where postpartum visits from family and friends are traditional, infants face high exposure risks even inside environments that parents consider secure. When adults talk, hold, or kiss a newborn, droplet transmission can occur instantly. To curb this risk, Dr. My Nhi advises that families limit post-partum visits during the first few weeks, require visitors to wash hands and wear masks, and use clean gowns when holding infants.
Clinical Severity in Healthy Infants
Severe RSV cases frequently affect robust, full-term infants rather than just premature babies or those with pre-existing medical conditions, according to Dr. Nguyen Thi Dieu Thuy, head of the pediatrics department at Hanoi Medical University Hospital. Parents often drop their guard because an older sibling recovers from a mild cough and fever within days, whereas a baby under three months old can deteriorate rapidly. Dr. Pham Hai Ha, deputy head of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, notes that an infant’s condition can decline within hours, turning a simple congestion into respiratory failure due to narrow airways clogged by mucus and inflammation.
Long-Term Respiratory Complications
Infants hospitalized for severe RSV infections face significant long-term health consequences beyond the acute illness phase. Clinical data cited by pediatric specialists indicate that early RSV bronchiolitis increases the risk of occasional wheezing by 3.2 times, frequent wheezing by 4.3 times, and subsequent asthma development by 2 to 12 times. Approximately 27 percent of children hospitalized with severe bronchiolitis develop asthma before reaching five years of age.
Protecting newborns against RSV begins during pregnancy through natural passive immunity and medical intervention, according to Dr. My Nhi. Alongside immunization discussions with healthcare providers, pregnant women and household members can lower infection risks by washing hands frequently, wearing masks in crowded areas, and avoiding contact with anyone exhibiting respiratory symptoms.
>Keep reading