Pediatrician specializing in neonatology, Prof. Dr. dr. Rinawati Rohsiswatmo, Sp.A, Subsp Neo(K), said that Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection in infants under one year old can leave residual symptoms in the form of asthma that persist into old age.
"This is the worst part, it's damaging his lungs. He didn't have a predisposition to asthma before, but after recovering from RSV, he developed asthma and is constantly ill," he said at an educational event on RSV infection in premature babies in Jakarta on Thursday.
He said that babies infected with RSV, especially premature babies, are more vulnerable, requiring treatment in an intensive care unit or ICU.
"We all know that being treated in the ICU isn't easy. It's hard to get a bed, not all hospitals have it, and it's expensive," he said.
According to him, RSV infection can reduce the baby's immune system and can cause the baby to experience pneumonia.
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