Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory syncytial virus or RSV is a virus that causes infections of the lungs and breathing passages. (Read about "Respiratory System") It can infect anyone. However, its biggest impact is on infants and young children.

RSV is the most common cause of respiratory infections in infants and young children, affecting tens of thousands every year. Symptoms can range from mild to life threatening. Virtually all children in the United States have been infected with RSV by the age of three, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is the leading cause of serious respiratory infections, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia (Read about "Bronchiolitis" "Pneumonia"), in infants and young children. It is responsible for approximately 90,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths each year, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).

In most cases, RSV causes a mild, cold-like respiratory infection. (Read about "The Common Cold") However, RSV is much more dangerous for infants and can be fatal in babies less than six months old, premature infants (Read about "Preterm Labor") and babies with congenital heart defects (Read about "Congenital Heart Defects") In fact, infants with these underlying medical conditions are six times more likely to be hospitalized with RSV than other children, according to CDC. RSV can also be more dangerous to adults with weakened immune systems, or chronic lung disease. (Read about "The Immune System" "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease")

RSV is spread by close contact with infected people, through coughing or sneezing, or contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. RSV is especially contagious during the first two to four days of the infection, but may be spread for up to three weeks or more after the infection has begun. RSV infections occur throughout the year but are widespread during the flu season of late fall to early spring, peaking in January and February. (Read about "Influenza")

Symptoms

In many cases, RSV usually causes symptoms of the common cold, including a stuffy or runny nose, coughing, sore throat (Read about "Sore Throat and Strep Throat") and mild fever.

In other cases, particularly in young children and infants, symptoms can include high fever, severe cough, wheezing and rapid or difficult breathing. If your child has these symptoms, the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends calling your doctor right away.

Treatment

For mild cases of RSV, no specific treatment is necessary, other than treatment of the symptoms. AMA says this may include:

• using a humidifier to relieve cough
• drinking plenty of fluids
• using saline drops or a bulb syringe to remove mucus from the nose
• giving acetaminophen to reduce fever

Infants and younger children with severe RSV pneumonia or bronchiolitis may require hospital treatment. Most children recover from RSV infections in one to two weeks. Children who are hospitalized for an RSV illness may spend several days in the hospital.

Prevention

There is no vaccine to prevent RSV infection, although researchers are working to develop one. Because RSV is spread through contact with infected fluids or objects, the best way to prevent infection is by frequently washing hands and toys and not sharing cups and utensils. To help prevent RSV infections in infants, it's a good idea to keep your baby away from people who have cold symptoms.

Two medicines have been approved to help prevent severe RSV infections in infants. They are only recommended for high-risk infants - those born prematurely or with chronic lung disease. Both are given in five monthly doses during RSV/flu season.

Related Information:

    Microorganisms

    Baby and Young Child Care

    Newborn Concerns