Overview

RSV is a respiratory virus that is common and causes cold like symptoms. It is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and virus droplets get in your eyes, nose, or mouth, or from contact with the virus from kissing someone or a child who has RSV or by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching your face. RSV can survive for many hours on surfaces.

Children are usually exposed to RSV at school or at daycare and then transmit the virus to other members of the family. It is so common that almost all children will have had an RSV infection by the time they turn 2.

The first infection usually happens as an infant but repeat infections may occur throughout life, and people of any age can be infected.

The main season for RSV infection in the United States is in the autumn through spring.

Symptoms

• Coughing
• Congested nose
• Headache
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Wheezing
• Sneezing
• Breathing difficulty
• Loss of appetite and drinking less
• Bluish or greyish skin color
• Irritability in infants

These symptoms are usually mild in most people but can be very serious in others, especially infants, premature infants, the elderly population, people with a weakened immune system, people with lung disease and heart disease. Children with neuromuscular disorders that cause difficulty in clearing mucus secretions or swallowing. Adults living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities are also at risk.

Symptoms usually begin to show up about 4 days after infection. It takes about 1 to 2 weeks to recover.

RSV is very contagious. People are contagious before they start showing symptoms and are contagious for about a week.

In infants and those with weakened immunity, the virus may continue to spread even after symptoms go away, for up to four weeks.

RSV must be diagnosed by your doctor.

Treatment

• Treatment of fever: Fever reducers and pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Aspirin should NEVER be given to children.
• Treatment of cough and cold symptoms: Speak with your pharmacist or other healthcare provider who will advise you on what to take depending on your symptoms.
• Saline nose drops or spray may be used to help with congestion.
• Hydration: Very important to drink enough fluids so that you done become dehydrated.
• Using a humidifier helps with breathing

In most people the infection will resolve in about a week but in some people it can cause very serious problems like:

• Pneumonia
• Bronchiolitis: inflammation in the lungs in some of the population especially in infants, older adults or people with asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or congestive heart failure.
• Acute bronchitis
• Low oxygen levels
• Ear Infections
• Dehydration
• Respiratory failure

In some of these cases the patient will need to be hospitalized in order to be hydrated, given oxygen, have mucus removed from the airways or antibiotics due to a secondary infection, if needed.

Get help immediately if you are short of breath, wheezing, have a worsening cough or have a bluish tinge to your skin color.

Prevention

• RSV vaccine
  • Arexvy by GSK for use in adults 60 and over as a single dose.
  • Abrysvo by Pfizer for use in adults 60 and over as a single dose, and a single for use in weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy to protect infants.
• RSV antibodies for infants and some children.
  • Nirsevimab is recommended by the CDC for all children younger than 8 months who are born during or are entering their first Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season. Except in rare circumstances, most infants younger than 8 months of age do not need nirsevimab if they were born 14 or more days after their mother got RSV vaccine. Nirsevimab is also recommended for some children age 8 through 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season. They are:
    • Children who were born prematurely and have chronic lung disease
    • Children with severe immunocompromise
    • Children with cystic fibrosis who have severe disease
    • American Indian and Alaska Native children
  • Palivizumab is recommended for children under 24 months of age with certain conditions that place them at high risk for severe RSV disease. It must be given once a month during RSV season.

Note: For most infants whose mothers received an RSV vaccine, they will not need to also get an RSV antibody.

Other preventive measures:

• Avoid close contact with other people
• Stay home when sick
• Wash hands regularly
• Avoid touching your face
• Clean surfaces that are touched regularly
• Cover your face with tissue or elbows when you sneeze or cough
• Do not share cups and utensils
• Wash toys regularly

Disclaimer: This is not an exhaustive list and is for information only. This is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist if you need personal treatment options or have any questions that affect you directly.