5 ms·
Toddlers have more robust immune systems than infants in multiple different ways. There's no evidence for your hypothesis. Evidence with a sample size of 1: I
by coryrc 4y ago
Toddlers have more robust immune systems than infants in multiple different ways. There's no evidence for your hypothesis.
Evidence with a sample size of 1: I have a pandemic toddler and a baby. Toddler was not sick once in first 18 months. Both just got RSV. Toddler was fine after a couple days. Infant was in ER and is still having effects weeks later.
- Vecr 4y agoIf the child gets RSV right as their maternal antibodies (to RSV) start fading, it could actually be less severe. It happened with polio, though polio has much more susceptibility to antibodies circulating in the blood if all you care about is severe disease.
- User23 4y agoA child receiving maternal immunoglobulins from breast milk during the first year postpartum who is exposed to RSV might not even become noticeably ill or present as a mild cold. Nevertheless the exposure will help teach their developing immune system. None of that is to downplay the potentially fatal seriousness of RSV. The immune system is imperfect after all. The NICU is maybe the most depressing place I’ve ever been in my life and my heart goes out for every parent who has or has had a child there or in any pediatric ICU.