Common Respiratory Illnesses
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the most common virus affecting premature babies, and the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection.
Respiratory viruses are a common worry for parents because premature babies are more at risk. Sometimes, premature babies with a respiratory illness must be re-admitted to the hospital. The CPBF has resources to help parents learn about common causes of respiratory illness, including RSV.
Learn more about how to reduce the risk of common respiratory illnesses to your baby.
Parent Letter
In collaboration with parents, we have created a letter to download, adapt and share with your family and friends. The letter is helpful in explaining to everyone why you are being extra careful when you bring your preemie home.
Download Parent letter (Microsoft Word 16 KB)
Podcasts
Tune into "With You in the NICU" podcasts to hear from experts, who will discuss many of the questions and concerns NICU parents often have.
Preemie Chats
Free online events covering a host of Preemie-focused topics
New! Parent Handbook
CBPF Parent Handbook, "Common Respiratory Ilnesses: Reducing the Risk"
This parent handbook was carefully developed by healthcare experts in the field of neonatal care. The information about common respiratory illnesses (including RSV) is thoughtfully presented in consultation with parents of preemie babies. See a page here.
PDF format 978 KB (16 pages)
Infographic: Why Premature Babies are more at Risk
Premature babies are at higher risk of becoming very sick. Read why.
Respiratory viruses bring us familiar cold symptoms that last a few days to a week for most people, but these same viruses may cause more serious illness in babies. Premature babies are at higher risk of becoming very sick.
PDF format 422 KB (1 page)
RSV Injection Criteria
RSV injections are not vaccines; they are antibodies which help protect high-risk babies from RSV. Eligibility criteria is based on recommendations by the Canadian Pediatric Society and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Canadian Immunization Guide. ​Each province has its own eligibility criteria. Please see the individual links for more information.
New! RSV Survey Report
A parent survey providing us with their understanding about RSV and respiratory illnesses, and their experience of obtaining this information. The results are very revealing.
RSV Information Sheets in other Languages
What you need to know about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). 17 Languages
A Sneak Peek from the New Parent Handbook of Common Respiratory Ilnesses: Reducing the Risk
Why preemies are at risk of becoming more sick with RSV:
Immature lungs. The lungs are among the last organs to develop before birth. Antibodies are proteins made in the body by a special type of white blood cell. They protect against viruses and bacteria that can make us sick, and help us to fight infections.
Protective antibodies that fight infection are passed from the mother across the placenta, mostly in the last few months of pregnancy. The premature baby misses out on the full amount of these antibodies and may also have difficulty producing their own.
For more information, visit www.rsvshield.ca
RSV Prevention Injections (RSV prophylaxis)
Some babies may be offered RSV prevention medicine (sometimes called RSV needles or RSV injections). RSV injections are not vaccines but a medicine that gives babies antibodies to stop the RSV virus from making them sick.
Two RSV prevention injections are available in Canada: palivizumab and nirsevimab. Each province and territory in Canada has their own guidelines about which babies should get RSV prevention medicine and which medicine is available. Your baby's healthcare provider can tell you more.
Links to each province and territory guidelines are below.
Alberta
www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/hp/rsv/if-hp-rsv-criteria.pdf
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British Columbia  
www.childhealthbc.ca/sites/default/files/B.C.%20RSV%20Manual%202018-19.pdf
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Manitoba https://libguides.lib.umanitoba.ca/c.php?g=298624&p=4972245
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New Brunswick
www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/ocmoh/for_healthprofessionals/cdc/NBImmunizationGuide.html
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Newfoundland and Labrador
www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/publichealth/cdc/infectionpreventionandcontrol/
www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/files/publichealth-cdc-infectioncontrol-rsv-dec2012.pdf3
Northwest Territories
Communications Health and Social Services
P.O. Box 1320 Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9 Phone 867-767-9052, ext. 49034 hsscommunications@gov.nt.ca
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Nova Scotia
www.iwk.nshealth.ca/palivizumab/provincial-guidelines/indications-for-use
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Nunavut
www.gov.nu.ca/sites/default/files/nunavut_synagis_protocol_season_2019_1.pdf
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Ontario
www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/funded_drug/fund_respiratory.aspx
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Prince Edward Island
www.iwk.nshealth.ca/palivizumab/provincial-guidelines/indications-for-use
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Quebec
www.hema-quebec.qc.ca/sang/professionnels-sante/circulaires/index.fr.html
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Saskatchewan
www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/locations_services/Services/Childrens-Services/RSV-Program
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Eligibility criteria is based on recommendations by the Canadian Pediatric Society and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Canadian Immunization Guide. Each province and territory has its own eligibility criteria which varies. Choose your province to read the guidelines. If you have further questions, speak to your baby's doctor.
Free! Webinar: Common Winter Illnesses