Reality star Jamie Otis says her twins have RSV and she 'panicked' she didn't take them to the doctor soon enough: What to know about the virus

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Jamie Otis and her family aren't having the easiest start to the new year. On Tuesday, the Married at First Sight alum took to social media with a video showing her and husband Doug Hehner taking their baby twins to the doctor's office after the boys both started getting sick.

Both of the couple's children, who were born in September, had fevers. Hawkins's fever spiked at 101.7 degrees Fahrenheit (38.7 degrees Celsius), while brother Huxley also had a low-grade fever. Hawkins also had a cough and some wheezing, but Otis shared in her caption that health-care professionals can't do much for colds or other viruses so they held off on bringing the kids in.

"Sure enough, they both tested positive for RSV," she wrote, which stands for respiratory syncytial virus. She added she would've rushed the babies to the clinic "the minute I heard them cough" if they were her first two kids, but realized it'd be better to keep a close eye on them if they didn't have other serious symptoms.

"I know this is exactly what the doctor has even told me in the past, but yet I second guessed myself when they both tested positive for RSV," she admitted, adding she panicked at first over her initial decision but was re-assured by her doctor that she brought the children in at the "perfect time."

"She sent us home with a nebulizer for the babies just in case they need it. Gosh, even though these are babies number three and four for us, I still get nervous and doubt myself as a mommy," Otis continued. "When do we as moms start feeling 100 per cent confident? Does that ever come?! Asking for a friend."

In the comments section of her social media posts, people expressed their sympathy and wished the family the best in their recovery.

"Praying! You're doing a good job!" wrote fellow TV personality Jill Duggar Dillard of 19 Kids and Counting.

"Sending prayers to the boys and to everyone in the household! I know it's super tough when babies are sick, and have to say, even though my kids are older now, I still don't like it when they are sick!!" someone commented on Instagram.

"You're doing all the right things. RSV is no joke! Hang in there. This too shall pass," a TikTok user added.

What is RSV?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus of the lungs and respiratory tract that follows a seasonal pattern and causes cold-like symptoms. These may include runny nose, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, fever, sore throat, headache and decreased appetite and energy.

It's so common that most children have an RSV infection by age two. In adults and older, healthy kids, RSV symptoms are typically mild and will present like the common cold, according to Mayo Clinic.

Is RSV dangerous for babies?

Most children and adults with an RSV infection will recover within one or two weeks. But sometimes, some people infected with RSV will require hospitalization. People who are most at-risk of serious illness from an RSV infection, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, include older adults over age 65 and those who are immunocompromised.

Infants are also the most at-risk when it comes to RSV infections, as it's the top reason why children under age one are hospitalized. Between irritability and breathing problems, there are various symptoms that make this virus a danger to babies. Plus, a severe RSV infection could lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis. The most common RSV symptoms in babies include:

• Short, shallow and rapid breathing

• Struggling to breathe, where chest muscles and skin pull inward with each breath

• Cough

• Poor feeding

• Unusual tiredness (lethargy)

• Irritability

How is RSV treated in a child?

Treatment for RSV if your child will depend on their overall health, their age as well as the severity of their condition. Antibiotics are not used to treat this virus. Instead, treatment helps lessen the impacts of the symptoms.

Some treatments for RSV include giving your child more fluids, possibly through an IV; providing oxygen through a mask or other tools; using a thin tube to suction out mucus; giving antiviral medicine as well as other methods to assist in feeding or breathing.

When should I take my child with RSV to the hospital?

When RSV symptoms become severe in your child, it's a good idea to seek help from a health-care professional. According to Cleveland Clinic, these severe symptoms might include:

• Noisy breathing

• Flaring nostrils with every breath

• A blue or grey colour to their lips, mouth and fingernails

• Belly breathing

• Shallow or fast breathing

• Pauses while breathing

• Dehydration signs

Is RSV a problem in Canada?

Late last year, walking pneumonia cases were on the rise across Canada and the U.S. Now, cases of that condition — which simply refers to a mild case of pneumonia — seem to be on the downtrend.

However, health-care experts are now warning families about flu and RSV, according to the Canadian Press. Health Canada data also shows cases of the virus trending upward, with more than 3,500 active cases detected in the last week of December. Babies under age one are the age group with the biggest proportion of RSV detections.

Various provinces are also reporting that RSV cases are rising, including B.C., Alberta and Quebec. According to data from the most recent week in Ontario, there is nearly an 11 per cent positivity rate for RSV.

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