Kids don’t get sick on a schedule. If sniffles turn into something more after hours, we have virtual and same-day appointments available.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a respiratory virus that frequently comes and goes, leaving children sick with cold symptoms for about a week. But the virus can infect the lungs, causing breathing difficulty and severe illness in babies and other young children.
RSV is highly contagious and is most common in the fall through spring. It can spread quickly through schools and child care centers as droplets containing the virus become airborne when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also can live on surfaces, hands and clothing, allowing it to spread through direct contact.
Respiratory illnesses caused by RSV — such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia — usually last about a week or two with rest, fluid and fever-reducing medication such as over-the-counter child’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen for a child older than 6 months. Never give aspirin to a child, as it could cause Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition that affects the brain and liver.
Some symptoms, such as a cough, can last several weeks.
Without serious symptoms, health care providers typically don’t distinguish RSV infection from a common cold. If a child has other health conditions or more serious symptoms, your medical provider might want to make a specific RSV diagnosis by testing nasal fluids. The sample is collected either with a cotton swab or by suction through a bulb syringe.
Because RSV is a virus, antibiotics won’t be effective in treating it.
RSV infection can be more serious in babies and toddlers. Some might need hospitalization where they can be watched closely and get supportive treatment for any breathing issues or dehydration.
RSV symptoms can start with normal cold symptoms, such as:
Complications can include bronchiolitis or pneumonia, especially in premature babies, infants younger than 12 months and kids with diseases like asthma that affect the lungs, heart or immune system.
Seek medical care if your child has any of the following as the infection could be developing into severe RSV disease:
Also seek medical care if your infant is very cranky or refuses to breastfeed or bottle-feed.
Get emergency medical attention if your child:
There is a vaccine recommended for all pregnant people late in their term if the baby will be born during the fall or spring RSV season. The parent will pass the protection on to the newborn and help prevent severe RSV disease.
For babies at increased risk for severe RSV illness, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an antibody shot if younger than 8 months old during or right before RSV season. Similarly, babies 8 to 19 months old and at severe risk can get the antibody shot when entering their second RSV season. If the RSV vaccine is given to the mother during pregnancy, the baby will likely not need the antibody shot.
The shot approved for babies contains synthetically produced antibodies that provide almost immediate RSV immunization. It is not a vaccine, as vaccines work by triggering the body to create its own antibodies to attack the virus.
Frequent hand washing will often stop the spread of RSV infection. School-age kids who have a cold should keep away from younger siblings — especially babies — until their symptoms clear up.
Other respiratory viruses can cause symptoms similar to those from RSV. Medical care providers strongly recommend that all children 6 months and older get vaccines each year to protect against severe illness from the flu and COVID-19.