Recommended by us: RSV "vaccination" for babies
An important topic at the start of the infection season: the so-called RS virus vaccination. So-called because it is not a vaccination in the true sense of the word.
The RSV vaccination is actually an administration of antibodies that remain in the blood over the winter and can thus protect babies from a severe RSV infection.
You can find out what the RS virus is and what happens in the event of an infection here.
We paediatricians are extremely happy and satisfied that it has now been possible to carry out this RSV prophylaxis since winter 2024/25. Because in the winters before that, we really did have a lot of very sick babies, some of whom had to be hospitalised with severe respiratory distress and, in the worst cases, had to be ventilated.
Winter 2024/25 was the first infection period in which RSV prophylaxis was recommended and also carried out across the board. And we saw a reduction in hospital admissions of up to 80 per cent! What we have also seen: The drug is tolerated with virtually no problems. As with vaccinations, children may have a little fever for a day or be cranky, the injection site may be reddened or similar. However, no serious relevant side effects have been seen worldwide.
Therefore, an appeal to all young parents: RSV prophylaxis is a really good and safe thing for babies who are born in the winter months and should definitely be taken up.
Click here for the information sheet from the Robert Koch Institute.
Further interesting tips
Shaking trauma
I would like to draw attention to an extremely important topic: #ShakeKills. That sounds a bit drastic, but I think it's absolutely justified because it's an incredibly important topic - one that can have drastic consequences. It's about shaking trauma in babies.
Occupational therapy in everyday life
Yes, it really does exist, World Lost Sock Day. Since 1998, the poor socks that disappear without a trace in the Bermuda Triangle between the laundry basket and the washing machine have been commemorated on 9 May.
Get moving!
Today the doctor has an expert at his side: Nina Kurz is a pre- and postnatal trainer and is very committed to the topic of sport for children and young people - and that's exactly what the two of them talked about.