What You Need To Know about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a single-stranded virus that originates from RNA. Illness from RSV is considered an infectious disease, usually leading to an infection of the upper respiratory tract but possibly causing lower respiratory tract infections as well.

Each year, RSV infections lead to about 58,000 hospitalizations and up to 500 deaths in children under 5, as well as 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths in adults aged 65 years or older.

Symptoms

RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, which don't appear all at once. A person with RSV will show symptoms within four to six days after infection. Those symptoms can include:

• Coughing or sneezing
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Decrease in appetite
• Wheezing
  

Who Is at High Risk for Severe Infections?

RSV can affect anyone; most individuals will improve in a week or two. However, two primary populations may experience severe infections from RSV: infants or young children and older adults.

Infants and Young Children

Premature and very young infants will likely experience severe illness resulting from RSV. This is also the case for children who:

• Are younger than 2 years old and have chronic lung or congenital heart diseases
• Have weakened immune systems
• Have neuromuscular disorders (e.g., disorders related to difficulty swallowing)

Of note, it's normal for infants to show symptoms of RSV (compared to adults, who may not). However, in babies who are, the symptoms may include irritability, decreased activity or appetite, and breathing pauses (apnea).

Additionally, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lung, and pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, in children under the age of one in the U.S.

Older Adults

Adults older than 65 years old, who have chronic heart or lung diseases, or who have weakened immune systems are at high risk for severe RSV infections.

The infections can cause asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or congestive heart failure to get worse. Individuals in this group may also end up with lung infections or pneumonia.

How Is RSV Transmitted?

There are several ways that RSV can spread. The methods of transmission may include:

• Coughing and sneezing from an individual with RSV
• Getting virus droplets from a cough or sneeze in your eyes, nose, or mouth
• Touching a surface that has the virus on it, such as a doorknob, then touching your face before washing your hands
• Having direct contact with RSV, like kissing the face of a child with the virus

Of note, the length of time RSV stays on a surface depends on the surface type. RSV lasts for shorter amounts of time on soft surfaces (e.g., tissues) than on hard surfaces (e.g., tables).

Additionally, individuals with RSV are contagious for three to eight days. Still, infants or people who have weakened immune systems may be able to transmit the virus for up to four weeks.

Treatment and Prevention

Specific treatments for RSV, like vaccines and antiviral medications, are not available to all populations. However, treatment for RSV involves reducing or relieving symptoms, such as managing fever and pain and drinking enough fluids to avoid dehydration.

To prevent RSV from spreading, there are a few things you can do, including:

• Not using your hands to cover coughs and sneezes
• Washing your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds
• Avoiding close contact with others (e.g., kissing or shaking hands)
• Cleaning surfaces that are touched a lot (e.g., doorknobs)
• Not interacting with individuals who are at high risk for severe RSV disease when you have cold symptoms
• Limiting time spent in potentially contagious settings during high periods of RSV activity
  

When Should You See a Healthcare Provider?

If you develop any symptoms of RSV, talk to a healthcare provider. You'll also want to seek medical attention for difficulty breathing difficulties, hydration issues, or worsening symptoms. Hospitalization may also be necessary for individuals under 6 months old or older adults with breathing or dehydration issues.

A Quick Review

RSV is a virus that causes issues within the respiratory tract, including symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, or sneezing. Preventing RSV infections involves washing your hands with soap and water and avoiding close contact with others.

It generally takes one to two weeks to recover from the illness. Still, the virus can be severe, particularly when it infects infants and older adults, so it's important to seek medical care if you think you have symptoms of an RSV infection.