A nurse is planning to admit a client who has respiratory syncytial

Last Reviewed: October 2011

What is respiratory syncytial virus infection?

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, infection is a respiratory illness caused by a virus.

Who gets RSV infection?

Anyone can be infected, but RSV most often causes serious illness in infants and very young children. The virus can also cause serious illness in elderly people and those with a weakened immune system.

When do RSV infections occur?

RSV infections typically occur during the fall and winter.

How is RSV spread?

RSV is spread through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of infected people when they cough and sneeze. RSV can also spread through dried respiratory secretions on bedclothes and similar items. RSV can remain on hard surfaces for several hours and on skin for shorter amounts of time.

What are the symptoms of RSV infection?

Typical symptoms resemble the common cold. However, RSV infection can also result in pneumonia, especially in the very young, the very old or those with weakened immune systems. However, mild or unnoticeable illness may occur. Symptoms may persist for a few days to a number of weeks.

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?

Symptoms generally begin four to six days after exposure. Symptoms generally develop slowly over a period of several days. The contagious period is usually less than 10 days after symptoms begin, but occasionally is longer.

How is RSV infection diagnosed?

RSV is usually diagnosed from the appearance of typical symptoms. The use of specific laboratory tests is often limited to cases of severe illness and to special outbreak investigations.

What is the treatment for RSV infection?

A medication called ribavirin is effective against RSV infection if begun in the first few days after symptoms appear. Because RSV infection is often resolved on its own, treatment of mild symptoms is not necessary for most people. Antibiotics are not effective treatments for viral illnesses such as RSV infection (although in certain patients, antibiotics may be used to treat bacterial infections which have complicated the RSV infection in that patient).

Does past infection with RSV make a person immune?

Immunity after RSV infection does occur, but is not lifelong. Repeat infections are known to occur, although they may be milder. The duration is unknown.

What can be done to prevent the spread of RSV?

At this time, two products that contain RSV antibodies are available to prevent RSV infection. These products are given once a month during the RSV season and are recommended for certain high-risk children. When RSV infections are noted in a facility such as a hospital or nursing home, contact isolation (to minimize person-to-person spread) and hand washing by health care workers have been shown to limit spread of the virus. As with any respiratory illness, all people should cover their face when coughing and sneezing.

People infected with RSV usually show symptoms within 4 to 6 days after getting infected. Symptoms of RSV infection usually include

• Runny nose
• Decrease in appetite
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Wheezing

These symptoms usually appear in stages and not all at once. In very young infants with RSV, the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties.

Almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.

Call your healthcare professional if you or your child is having difficulty breathing, not drinking enough fluids, or experiencing worsening symptoms.

Care

Most RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two.

There is no specific treatment for RSV infection, though researchers are working to develop vaccines and antivirals (medicines that fight viruses).

Take 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. It is important for people with RSV infection to 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.

RSV can cause more serious health problems

RSV can also cause more severe infections such as bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lung, and pneumonia, an infection of the lungs. It is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age.

Healthy adults and infants infected with RSV do not usually need to be hospitalized. But some people with RSV infection, especially older adults and infants younger than 6 months of age, may need to be hospitalized if they are having trouble breathing or are dehydrated. In the most severe cases, a person may require additional oxygen or intubation (have a breathing tube inserted through the mouth and down to the airway) with mechanical ventilation (a machine to help a person breathe). In most of these cases, hospitalization only lasts a few days.

Learn more about people at high risk for severe RSV infection.