What is RSV & how do you treat it?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that can cause seasonal infections of the lungs and respiratory tract.

RSV is actually so common that almost all children get RSV at least once before the age of 2! 

It typically occurs in late fall through early spring, but can vary in different parts of the country. The weather is slowly starting to get colder and a lot of kids are heading back to school across the country. At some point, your kid may come home coughing, congested with tons of clear mucus, a little warm to the touch and fussier than usual. They may have gotten RSV - which is also known as the common cold.

Adults and older, healthy children generally have mild symptoms, which typically mimic a common cold. However, RSV can cause severe infection in premature infants or babies 6 months and younger, individuals with heart and lung disease or immunocompromised patients. 

Common symptoms include:

• Cough

• Congestion

• Fever & fussiness

• Wheezing & difficulty breathing

• Tons of clear mucus

As there is no cure for RSV, most treatment is done to alleviate symptoms:

• Antibiotics and steroids don’t help, so you kind of have to let it run its course.

• RSV can last up to 10 days and tends to peak on days 4-5. 

If your kiddos have RSV, your best bet is to comfort them: Cuddling, reading a book together, or playing a quiet game can be a good distraction.

Other tips for relieving symptoms include: 

• Supportive care, including fluids and frequent feedings to make sure your child is staying hydrated. 

• Nasal saline with gentle suctioning to allow easier breathing and feeding.

  • Babies with a common cold may not feel like eating because they are feeling stuffy.

  • Suctioning your baby’s nose before feeds can help make them feel more comfortable.

• Cool-mist humidifier use, to help break up mucus and facilitate easier breathing. Make sure to clean it daily to prevent mold and bacteria from growing. 

• Tylenol as needed to help with low-grade fevers. If your child os older than 6 months, you can also give Motrin. 

Things to avoid:

• Do not give aspirin, unless specifically instructed to do so by your pediatrician. Aspirin can cause a severe complication called Reye Syndrome in children.

• Avoid hot-water and steam humidifiers. They can be hazardous and can scald skin.

RSV is highly contagious and spreads through direct person-to-person contact with saliva, mucus, or nasal discharge. 

It can also survive on unclean hands for 30 minutes or longer and on unclean objects or surfaces up to 6 hours. Regular hands washing with soap and water is key in prevention! 

Severe illness can lead to bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) or pneumonia and can even lead to hospitalization. 

Having RSV may lower immunity and may make your child more susceptible to getting COVID-19. These infections can occur together, so your doctor may recommend testing for COVID-19 if your child has symptoms of a respiratory illness. 

Call your child’s doctor if they have a fever over 101 °F, the cough lasts more than 4 days, they are unusually lethargic, or if the symptoms keep worsening.

If your child has difficulty breathing, high fever, or blue skin discoloration, please go immediately to the emergency room!

Hopefully your children will remain unscathed through RSV season this fall/winter. But, if your child does come down with RSV this season, think of it as a right of passage and rest assured that most likely, they’ll be back to normal in no time!

Your PediPals