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About
RSV
Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants, older adults and those with weakened immune systems. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States. RSV circulation in the United States usually starts during fall and peaks in the winter. The timing and severity of RSV circulation can vary from year to year.
Symptoms
In most people, RSV causes a mild, cold-like illness that lasts for 1-2 weeks. Symptoms usually appear 4 to 6 days after getting infected. Symptoms of RSV infection usually include:
- Runny Nose
-
Decrease
in
appetite
-
Coughing
-
Sneezing
-
Fever
-
Wheezing
Symptoms usually appear in stages and not all at once. In very young infants
with RSV, the only
symptoms may be:
-
Irritability
-
Decreased
activity
-
Breathing
difficulties*
*Call
your healthcare provider
right away if you or your child is having difficulty breathing, not drinking enough fluids, or
your symptoms are
getting worse.
Home
Care for RSV
Most RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two. There is no specific treatment for RSV infection, but you can take the following steps to relieve symptoms:
- Manage fever and pain with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Never
give
aspirin
to
children.
- Drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration (loss of body fluids).
- Talk to your healthcare provider before giving your child nonprescription cold medicines. Some medicines contain ingredients that are not good for children.
People at Risk for
Severe Disease
Occasionally, RSV infection can cause lower respiratory infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. RSV infection can also sometimes lead to exacerbations of chronic health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or congestive heart failure. People most at risk of serious illness from RSV infection include:
-
Premature
infants
- Young children with congenital (from birth) heart or chronic lung disease
- Young children with weakened immune systems due to a medical condition or medical treatment
- Children with neuromuscular disorders
-
Adults
with
weakened immune systems
- Older adults, especially those with underlying heart or lung disease
Transmission
People infected with RSV are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days and may become contagious a day or two before they start showing
symptoms. Some infants,
and people with weakened
immune systems, can
continue to spread the
virus even after they
stop showing symptoms,
for as long as 4 weeks.
RSV can spread when:
- An infected person coughs or sneezes
- Virus droplets from a cough or sneeze
get in your eyes, nose, or mouth
- A
person
has direct contact with the virus, like kissing the face of a child with RSV
- A
person touches
a
surface
that has
the
virus on
it and then touches
their
face
before
washing
their hands.
RSV can
survive
for many
hours on
hard
surfaces
such as
tables
and crib
rails.
It
usually lives on soft surfaces such as tissues and hands for
a shorter amount of time.
Prevention
Unfortunately, unlike COVID-19 and Influenza, there isn’t yet a vaccine available to protect against RSV.
The following are
steps that can be taken
to prevent the spread of
RSV:
-
Cover
your
coughs
and
sneezes
with a
tissue
or cough
or
sneeze
into
your
elbow
not your
hand
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid close contact, such as kissing
and shaking hands with others
- Stay
home from work or school when sick, until symptoms improve
- Avoid sharing cups and eating utensils with others
- Clean frequently touched surfaces
- Some young babies at highest risk for severe RSV disease may be able to receive a medication called palivizumab (Synagis) that can protect against severe disease from RSV. This medication is given by healthcare providers to premature infants and young children with certain heart and lung conditions as a series of monthly shots during RSV season. Parents or guardians who are concerned about their child's risk for severe RSV infection should talk to their child's healthcare provider.
Data
Individual cases of RSV are not currently reportable to LACDPH. Data tracking RSV trends in Los Angeles County are available
in the latest issue of
Influenza Watch.
Fact
Sheets
Resources
News and Updates
-
CDC Health Advisory:
Increased Respiratory Virus Activity, Especially Among Children, Early in the 2022-2023 Fall and Winter
(11-4-22)
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