Ball Memorial Hospital physician in Muncie warns parents to be on the lookout for RSV in infants

MUNCIE — A physician at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital is urging parents to watch their children — especially babies — for symptoms that might indicate they have contracted RSV.

The number of Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases being dealt with at the Muncie hospital has increased significantly of late, according to Sadia Abbasi, medical director and pediatric hospitalist.

While anyone can get the respiratory virus, it can be especially troublesome for the very young.

RSV is by no means new, the Muncie physician said.

"What's new is (the virus) spreading like an epidemic," she added.

Symptoms can include a runny nose, a lack of appetite and wheezing, Abbasi said.