Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine reveal daughter’s RSV health battle

TV host Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine explain how their baby girl’s common cold worsened and almost turned deadly as they warn other parents to be vigilant.

TV host Karl Stefanovic and his shoe designer wife Jasmine got the scare of their lives last year when their baby girl’s common cold worsened.

Before they knew it, little Harper was struggling to breathe — and her heart rate soared nearly 200 beats per minute, as RSV took hold.

“Harper had the sniffles and a cough. Karl and I assumed she just had a bit of a cold. But within hours, she became very sick,” said Mrs Stefanovic.

“It was alarming to see how hard she was working to breathe, with her little ribs sucking in and tummy pulling up into her chest.

“While I knew in my heart that Harper needed medical help, I wasn’t sure at first if I was overreacting. Thankfully, my gut instinct took over and we took her to see our GP.”

Jasmine Stefanovic with her daughter Harper in the hospital with RSV. Picture Supplied

Their local doctor gave the two year old oxygen before calling an ambulance to take her to hospital.

“It was a long night as we sat in the hospital ward with Harper, trying to comfort her as a medical team worked to help her breathe,” she said.

Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic with their daughter Harper. Picture: Supplied

The Stefanovics had never heard of RSV before their daughter was hospitalised with it.

They said they were sharing their family’s RSV story in the hope that it will help other parents understand the realities of the virus and know when to seek medical help.

A year on, their now-three-year-old toddler still has a lingering wheeze and doctors have explained that RSV can have a range of long-term health effects.

“We’ll be keeping a close eye on her this winter,” she said.

WHEN TO GO TO HOSPITAL

In most cases RSV is mild, with symptoms similar to a cold. But some children develop severe RSV and require medical attention for lung infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

The signs of severe RSV in young children include:

*Difficulty breathing

*Not eating or drinking

*Exhaustion

*And a fever

Also be alert for:

*Short, shallow and rapid breathing, where the child’s chest caves in between and under the ribs or the lower neck

*Up and down head movements or grunting with each breath

*Flared nostrils and wheezing

*And in some cases even a blue tint on their lips, fingernails or around their eyes.

Originally published as Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine reveal daughter’s RSV health battle