Learn About Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection
What is the definition of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that causes infections of the respiratory tract and lungs. Respiratory syncytial virus mostly affects children but can also infect adults.
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What are the symptoms of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection?
Symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus can be similar to a mild cold in older, healthy children and adults.
In babies under 12 months, premature infants, individuals with heart or lung disease, immunocompromised individuals, older adults, and individuals with other serious medical problems, respiratory syncytial virus can cause severe infection.
Symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection usually appear within 4-to-6 days after infection. Symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection include decreased appetite, runny nose, congestion, cough, sneezing, fever, sore throat, headache, and wheezing.
Symptoms of severe respiratory syncytial virus infection may also include fever; severe cough; wheezing; short, shallow, and rapid breathing or difficulty breathing; bluish skin; poor appetite; extreme fatigue; and irritability.
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What are the current treatments for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection?
Treatment for respiratory syncytial virus infection is focused on supportive and self-care, including over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen; saline nasal drops; cough medicine; and fluids. (Note that children should never be given aspirin. In addition, children under four years of age should not be given cough medicine unless prescribed by a physician.) Antibiotics may be prescribed if bacterial pneumonia develops.
Patients with severe respiratory syncytial virus infection are treated in the hospital. In-hospital treatment for patients with severe respiratory syncytial virus infection may include intravenous fluids, antibiotics, humidified oxygen, intubation, and mechanical ventilation.
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