RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV)

In adults and older, healthy children, the symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus are mild and typically mimic the common cold. Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection typically appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms such as:

• Congested Or Runny Nose
• Dry Cough
• Low-Grade Fever
• Sore Throat
• Mild Headache

Severe symptoms of RSV may include:

• Fever
• Severe cough
• Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that’s usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)
• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing, which may make the child prefer to sit up rather than lie down
• Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)

Most children and adults recover from the illness in one to two weeks. Infants are most severely affected by RSV. The virus may cause them a more severe, occasionally life-threatening, infection that requires hospitalization. Premature babies and even adults who have chronic heart or lung problems may have risk for a severe RSV.

When to see a doctor

Most cases of respiratory syncytial virus infection aren’t life-threatening. However, call your doctor promptly or seek medical attention if your child  or anyone at risk of severe disease experiences severe symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, runs a high fever or turns blue, particularly on the lips and in the nail beds.

Diagnosis

A person may be diagnosed of RSV based on a physical exam and the time of year of the infection. During the exam, your doctor may listen to the lungs with a stethoscope to check for wheezing or other abnormal sounds.

Your doctor may also use:

• Painless skin monitoring (pulse oximetry) to check whether the level of oxygen available in the bloodstream is lower than usual
• Blood tests to check white cell counts or to look for the presence of viruses, bacteria or other organisms
• Chest X-rays to check for pneumonia
• Lab tests of respiratory secretions from your nose that check for the virus

Treatment

In general, treatment for respiratory syncytial virus involves self-care measures to make your child more comfortable (supportive care). Hospital care may be needed in severe cases.

• Supportive care-Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to reduce fever. Your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic if there’s a bacterial complication, such as bacterial pneumonia.

Otherwise, keep your child as comfortable as possible. Offer plenty of fluids and watch for signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, little to no urine output, sunken eyes and extreme fussiness or sleepiness.

• Hospital care- Severe cases may be necessary to provide intravenous (IV) fluids and humidified oxygen. Hospitalized infants and children may also be hooked up to mechanical ventilation — a breathing machine — to ease breathing.

In some severe cases, a nebulized bronchodilator such as albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil-HFA, Ventolin HFA) may be used to relieve wheezing. This medication opens air passages in the lungs.