Be mindful of RSV, a contagious respiratory illness

December 12, 2022 / Family Medicine / 4-minute read

Updated December 12, 2022 (originally posted December 31, 2021)

With public health information primarily focused on COVID-19, it’s essential to keep in mind there are other respiratory viruses that course through our communities at this time of year. In addition to influenza (the flu), there is Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV. This year RSV was seen earlier in Minnesota than in years past.

This respiratory illness is common, and it usually isn’t severe. Typically, it causes mild cold-like symptoms. However, RSV can be serious, for infants and older adults. In the United States, RSV is the most common cause of pneumonia (an infection in the lungs) and bronchiolitis (when the small airways in the lungs are inflamed) in children younger than one year of age.

Healthy adults and infants infected with RSV do not usually need to be hospitalized. But if they are having trouble breathing or are dehydrated, they may need hospital care. In the most severe cases, a person may require additional oxygen or intubation with mechanical ventilation. In most of these cases, hospitalization only lasts a few days.

Symptoms

People infected with RSV often show symptoms within 4-6 days after getting infected. The symptoms include:

runny nose
decreased appetite
coughing, sneezing
fever
wheezing

These symptoms do not usually appear all at once. Instead, they appear in stages.

Note: In very young infants with RSV, the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity and breathing difficulties.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for RSV infection. Because it is a virus, antibiotics are not used. (Antibiotics are used for bacterial infections.) Most RSV infections clear up on their own within a week or two.

You can, however, take steps to lessen the symptoms.

Manage fever and pain with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Be sure to talk with your pharmacist or primary care provider about doses. Ibuprofen is typically avoided in children six months and younger.
Drink enough fluids. If you or a loved one has RSV, it’s essential to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration (loss of body fluids).
Talk to your healthcare provider before giving your child non-prescription cold medicines. Some medicines contain ingredients that are not good for children.

Prevention

Below are steps to take to help prevent the spread of RSV. These steps are critical if you have cold-like symptoms.

Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or upper shirt sleeve, not your hands
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid close contact, such as kissing, shaking hands, and sharing cups and eating utensils, with others
Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices

Ideally, people with cold-like symptoms should not interact with children at high risk for severe RSV disease, including premature infants, children younger than two years of age with chronic lung or heart conditions, and children with weakened immune systems.

If this is not possible, they should carefully follow the prevention steps mentioned above and wash their hands before interacting with such children. They should also refrain from kissing high-risk children while they have cold-like symptoms.

Parents of children at high risk for developing severe RSV disease should help their child, when possible, do the following:

Avoid close contact with sick people
Wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid touching their face with unwashed hands
Limit the time they spend in child-care centers or other potentially contagious settings, especially during fall, winter, and spring. This may help prevent infection and the spread of the virus during the RSV season

For babies who are born prematurely (at or before 35 weeks and who are six months of age or less at the beginning of RSV season) or that have certain heart or lung problems, medication may be available to help prevent severe lung disease. An injection of RSV-fighting antibodies can be done monthly during the RSV season, helping protect the children’s vulnerable lungs from RSV. If you are caring for a premature infant or a young infant with heart or lung problems, ask your Welia Health provider whether this should be considered.

If your child is having breathing difficulties, not eating or drinking well, or worsening symptoms, call Welia Health at 320.679.1313.