As the leaves fall in New England, coughs and runny noses start to pile up. One of the viruses behind them is RSV, short for respiratory syncytial virus. For most older kids and healthy adults, RSV feels like a bad cold. For babies, young children and older adults, it can be more serious. Here is how to spot RSV, how to care for it at home, and when to get help.
What is RSV?
RSV is a common virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs. It spreads through coughs, sneezes, close contact and touching surfaces that have the virus on them. According to HealthyChildren.org from the American Academy of Pediatrics, RSV usually spreads from late fall through early spring. The CDC notes that most children catch RSV at least once by age 2, and people can get it again later in life.
Common RSV symptoms
Symptoms usually show up within 4 to 6 days after someone is exposed, and they often come on in stages rather than all at once. Watch for:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Cough and sneezing
- Fever (many babies with RSV do not have a fever)
- Eating or drinking less than usual
- Wheezing
Very young babies may not have typical cold symptoms. Instead, they may be fussy, less active, feed poorly or have trouble breathing. Symptoms can also get worse a few days into the illness. That is why it helps to keep a close eye on little ones even after the first day or two. Most RSV infections get better on their own in about one to two weeks, according to the CDC.
Who is at higher risk?
RSV can make some people much sicker than others. The groups most at risk include:
- Babies, especially the youngest babies and those born early
- Young children with lung or heart conditions, or a weak immune system
- Adults 75 and older
- Adults with long-term heart or lung disease, such as COPD or asthma
- People with weakened immune systems and those living in nursing homes
There are now ways to help protect people at higher risk, including an RSV vaccine for some older adults, a vaccine given during pregnancy, and an antibody shot for babies. Ask your doctor, your child’s pediatrician or your pharmacist which option, if any, is right for your family. The CDC’s page on RSV in adults explains who is recommended to get the vaccine.
How to care for RSV at home
There is no specific medicine that cures RSV, and antibiotics do not help because it is a virus. Care at home focuses on comfort and fluids:
- Offer plenty of fluids. For babies, try smaller, more frequent feedings.
- For a stuffy baby, use saline nose drops and gentle suction, especially before feeds.
- Run a cool-mist humidifier to help loosen mucus.
- Ask a doctor or pharmacist before giving any fever reducer or over-the-counter medicine, especially to babies and young children. Never give aspirin to children, and avoid cough and cold medicines for young kids.
- Rest, wash hands often, and keep sick children home from school or daycare until they are feeling better.
When to get checked
Reach out to a medical provider if you or your child:
- Is drinking much less than usual, or a baby has fewer wet diapers
- Has symptoms that keep getting worse, or are not starting to improve after about a week
- Has a high fever, ear pain, or a cough that will not quit
- Has asthma or COPD that is flaring up with the illness
Our providers at both clinics can examine you or your child, listen to the lungs and help sort out whether it is RSV, a cold, flu, COVID or something else. Rapid tests, X-ray and lab are on site when needed. Learn more about our care for illness and infections and our COVID, flu and strep testing. We treat children and adults, and no appointment is needed. Walk in, or reserve your spot online.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if…
- Someone is struggling to breathe, breathing very fast, or the skin between the ribs pulls in with each breath
- A baby has pauses in breathing
- Lips, skin or nail beds look blue, gray or pale
- A child is very sleepy, hard to wake or much less alert than usual
- There are signs of severe dehydration, such as no tears, a very dry mouth or very few wet diapers
- A baby younger than 3 months has a fever of 100.4°F or higher and you cannot reach your pediatrician right away
When in doubt about breathing, do not wait. Breathing trouble in a baby or young child always needs prompt care.