Many parents understand the importance of a flu shot to reduce their child's risk of getting the flu, but they often don't think about trying to prevent RSV. Remember that RSV is an acronym for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, a common cause of colds and bronchiolitis for infants and children.

The symptoms of RSV infections can range from having a simple clear runny nose and occasional cough that can be treated at home, to wheezing and severe difficulty breathing that may require hospitalization. Fortunately, Synagis is a monthly injection that can be given to high risk children, especially premature babies, to prevent them from getting RSV. Since RSV season typically runs from November until March, now would be an important time to get started on those Synagis shots though.

Related: RSV Symptoms | RSV | RSV Prevention | RSV and Bronchiolitis