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Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common, and very contagious, virus that infects the respiratory tract of most children before their second birthday.
For most babies and young children, the infection causes nothing more than a cold. But for a small percentage, infection with RSV can lead to serious, sometimes life-threatening problems such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways of the lungs.
RSV infection can cause cold-like symptoms, including a cough and runny nose, which usually last 1 to 2 weeks.
When to see a doctor: Call your baby's doctor if you notice any of the following RSV symptoms:
If your baby is very tired, breathes rapidly, has difficulty in breathing, or has a blue tint to their lips or fingernails, call 911 or go to the ER immediately.
Respiratory syncytial virus spreads through the air, like after a cough or a sneeze, and through direct contact like touching.
The chance of a severe infection is highest for:
To diagnose RSV, your child's doctor will probably look at their medical history and do a physical exam, including listening to their lungs.
Your doctor might do some tests if your child is very sick or in order to rule out other problems. Tests for RSV include:
Steps you can take to try to avoid and prevent RSV include:
A medication called palivizumab may prevent RSV infections and protect high-risk babies from serious complications of RSV infection. If your baby is at high risk, your doctor may give them a monthly shot of it during peak RSV season.
While palivizumab is a short acting monoclonal antibody, there is a long acting monoclonal antibody called nirsevimab that may be approved this year for infants. Also, a vaccine for pregnant people is expected to be presented to the FDA for approval in 2023. Older adults can also be susceptible to RSV and two vaccines should be available later in 2023 for those 60 and older to help them avoid serious illness and hospitalization.
Although palivizumab may help prevent serious complications of RSV infection, doctors don't use it to treat RSV. No medication treats the virus itself. So caring for a baby with RSV infection involves treating the symptoms and how it affects your baby's respiratory system.
Most babies and young children can be cared for at home:
Babies with more serious cases may need to go to a hospital, where their treatment may include:
What To Know About RSV's Seasonal Trends And Symptoms
RSV season typically starts during the fall but it may continue to circulate until the spring.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes respiratory infections. It's one of the most common causes of childhood illness, and it can also infect adults.
Some groups of people have a higher risk for severe illness due to RSV. These groups include:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year, RSV leads to more than 58,000 hospitalizations in children under the age of 5 and 60,000 hospitalizations in adults over 65.
Continue reading about RSV, its seasonal trends, symptoms, and treatment.
RSV does exhibit seasonal trends. That means it's more common at certain times of the year.
In the United States, the RSV season typically begins in the fall. The virus can continue to circulate until the spring months.
While the overall fall-to-spring seasonal pattern of RSV remains consistent, the exact timing of the beginning, peak, and end of the RSV season can vary slightly yearly.
It usually takes 4 to 6 days after infection for symptoms to develop. Infections typically go away on their own after 1 or 2 weeks. However, a cough may linger for several weeks.
In older children and adults, an RSV infection often causes symptoms of the common cold. These can include:
Some of the symptoms in babies and young children can be slightly different. Some symptoms to look out for include:
RSV infections can be more severe in at-risk groups. In these cases, the virus often spreads to the lower respiratory tract. The symptoms of a more severe case of RSV include:
Yes, RSV is contagious. That means it can be spread from person to person. Someone who has an RSV infection can typically transmit the virus between 3 and 8 days.
RSV is typically spread through respiratory droplets produced when a person with RSV coughs or sneezes. If these droplets enter your nose, mouth, or eyes, you can contract the virus.
You can also spread the virus through direct contact. One example of this is kissing the face of a baby who has RSV.
Also, RSV can contaminate objects and surfaces, where it can survive for several hours. If you touch an affected object or surface and then touch your face or mouth, you could become ill.
Various potentially serious complications can develop from an RSV infection. Those at an increased risk for complications include:
Some potential complications of RSV include:
Because RSV can be potentially severe for babies and young children, make an appointment with your child's pediatrician if you notice:
Seek immediate medical care if you, your child, or a loved one shows any of the following RSV symptoms:
Most of the time, RSV can be treated with at-home care. The best way to treat the infection at home is to:
Depending on the infant's age, a doctor may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to ease fever as well as aches and pains. Talk with your baby's doctor before using these OTC medications.
More severe cases of RSV may need to be managed in the hospital. Treatment may include:
There's currently no vaccine for RSV, although multiple vaccine candidates are being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are expected to be approved later in 2023. RSV vaccines under review from Pfizer and GSK would protect adults over 60. The FDA is also reviewing a monoclonal antibody shot developed by AstraZeneca to prevent RSV in newborns and infants.
There are other steps you can take daily to help prevent RSV including:
If you do become ill, the following may help limit the spread of the virus:
A drug called palivizumab can be used as a preventive measure for babies and young children at high risk for severe RSV illness. Palivizumab is a monoclonal antibody shot, like AstraZeneca's drug currently under review.
Generally, this includes premature babies born at 29 weeks or earlier and babies or young children with certain underlying health conditions.
Palivizumab is given as a once-monthly injection during RSV season.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes seasonal respiratory illness. RSV season typically begins in the fall. The virus can continue to circulate until spring.
Many people who get RSV experience a mild illness. However, some groups are at an increased risk for more serious illness, with complications like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
RSV is contagious, but taking preventive measures can limit its spread. This includes frequent handwashing, not sharing personal items, and avoiding people who are sick.
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What You Need To Know About RSV And Pneumonia
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes mild illness in most children and adults. However, pneumonia can be serious, requiring treatment and sometimes hospitalization. Rarely, for people at high risk, pneumonia can be fatal.
RSV causes a viral infection that most people come in contact with before age 2. For some infants, older adults, and people with certain health conditions, an RSV infection can become severe and lead to other health conditions, like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Here's what you need to know about pneumonia caused by RSV, who's at risk, and what treatments may help.
RSV pneumonia is pneumonia that results from an RSV infection.
RSV is a respiratory virus. It typically stays confined to the upper airways. In certain situations, though, it can move into the lungs. While rare, this is when RSV-related pneumonia may develop.
Pneumonia is a lung infection. When a person has pneumonia, the air sacs in their lungs fill with fluid and pus. This extra strain can make breathing difficult and lead to other symptoms.
RSV is the leading cause of pneumonia in children under age 1 in the United States.
Symptoms of RSV may be as mild as a runny nose and sore throat. When pneumonia develops, you may notice symptoms that happen slowly or suddenly.
Symptoms may include:
Newborns may not show obvious signs of pneumonia. Young children may experience nausea and vomiting with pneumonia, while older adults may feel confused or have trouble thinking.
Research suggests that having a severe form of RSV may make certain people vulnerable to a secondary bacterial infection.
One of the earliest symptoms of serious illness with RSV is a barking cough or wheezing. When this happens, it means that the infection has moved to the lungs.
When infection and inflammation take hold in the small airways into the lungs, it can result in bacterial pneumonia.
Diagnosis of RSV pneumonia starts with a physical exam. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and how long you have had them.
Tests to diagnose RSV pneumonia include the following:
There are various other tests your doctor may perform depending on the severity of your symptoms and your medical history.
RSV itself is a virus. It tends to clear up for most people within 1 to 2 weeks with no specific treatment. Since RSV-related pneumonia is usually bacterial pneumonia, it can be treated with antibiotics that your doctor prescribes.
Other treatments may include:
Some people may need care in a hospital setting. For example, this is the case for 1 to 2 out of every 100 children under 6 months old.
Hospitalization may include:
People at the highest risk for serious illness, like pneumonia, related to RSV include:
The outlook for somebody with RSV pneumonia depends on a number of factors. In severe cases, a person may need to be hospitalized for specialized care. Even if a person is hospitalized, it's usually only for a few days.
Some people recover from pneumonia quickly — in as little as a week. For others, it may take a couple of months until they feel back to their typical health.
Complications of pneumonia include:
Is there a vaccine for RSV?No. Researchers are working on a vaccine. Right now, the only preventive measure is a drug called palivizumab (Synagis). It is only available to babies and young children at the highest risk.
How often does RSV result in hospitalization?According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 58,000 to 80,000 children under age 5 and 60,000 to 160,000 adults over age 65 are hospitalized with severe RSV each year.
When is RSV season?The exact season is different each year. The usual onset of RSV season is between mid-September and mid-November. It typically lasts until between mid-April and mid-May.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have concerns about a respiratory illness. It can be difficult to tell if RSV has moved to the lungs by symptoms alone. Your doctor can perform the necessary tests to diagnose pneumonia and prescribe medications and other treatments so you'll feel better.
If you have any of the following symptoms, like trouble breathing, nasal flaring, or blue-tinted lips or fingertips, contact your doctor or head to the emergency room. Pay close attention to your symptoms, especially if you have risk factors for severe infection.
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