Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus that leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can be more serious in young babies, especially to those in certain high-risk groups.
Alternative NamesRSV; Palivizumab; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immune Globulin
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsRSV is the most common germ that causes lung and airway infections in infants and young children. Most infants have had this infection by age 2. Outbreaks of RSV infections most often begin in the fall and run into the spring.
RSV is spread easily by physical contact. Touching, kissing, and shaking hands with an infected person can spread RSV. The disease spreads from person to person through contact with contaminated tiny droplets or objects that the droplets have touched.
RSV can live for a half an hour or more on hands. The virus can also live for up to 5 hours on countertops and for several hours on used tissues. RSV often spreads very rapidly in crowded households and day care centers.
The infection can occur in people of all ages.
Risks include:
Note: Symptoms vary and differ with age. Infants under age 1 are most severely affected and often have the most trouble breathing. Older children usually have only mild, cold-like symptoms. Symptoms usually appear 4 - 6 days after coming in contact with the virus.
Signs and testsRapid tests for this virus can be done on a fluid sample taken from the nose at many hospitals and clinics.
TreatmentAntibiotics do not treat RSV. Mild infections go away without treatment. Infants and children with a severe RSV infection may be admitted to the hospital so they can receive oxygen, humidified air, and fluids by IV.
A breathing machine (ventilator) may be needed.
Expectations (prognosis)RSV infection can, in rare cases, cause death in infants. However, this is unlikely if the child is seen by a health care provider early in the course of the illness.
More severe RSV disease may be seen in:
In older children and adults, the disease will usually be mild.
Some evidence suggests that children who have had RSV bronchiolitis are at increased risk for Asthma.
ComplicationsIn young children, RSV can cause:
Call your health care provider if breathing difficulties or other symptoms of this disorder appear. Any breathing difficulties in an infant are an emergency. Seek medical attention right away.
PreventionA simple way to help prevent RSV infection is to wash your hands often, especially before touching your baby. It is important to make certain that other people, especially caregivers, take precautions to avoid giving RSV to your baby. The following simple steps can help protect your baby:
Parents of high-risk young infants should avoid crowds during outbreaks of RSV. Moderate-to-large outbreaks are often reported in the local news and newspapers to provide parents with an opportunity to avoid exposure.
The drug Synagis (palivizumab) is approved for the prevention of RSV disease in children younger than 24 months who are at high risk for serious RSV disease. Ask your doctor if your child is at high risk for RSV and whether this medicine should be given.
ReferencesCommittee on Infectious Diseases. Modified recommendations for use of palivizumab for prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections. Pediatrics. 2009;124:1694-1701.
Simoes E, Groothuis JR, Carbonell-Estrany X, Rieger C, Mitchell I, Fredrick LM, Kimpen J, et al. Palivizumab prophylaxis, respiratory syncytial virus, and subsequent recurrent wheezing. J Pediatr. 2007;151:34-42.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Evidence based clinical practice guideline for medical management of bronchiolitis in infants less than 1 year of age presenting with a first time episode. Cincinnati (OH): Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; 2006 May. 13 p.
Mcintosh K. Respiratory syncytial virus. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 257.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus that leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can be more serious in young babies, especially to those in certain high-risk groups.
Alternative NamesRSV; Palivizumab; Respiratory syncytial virus immune globulin
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsRSV is the most common germ that causes lung and airway infections in infants and young children. Most infants have had this infection by age 2. Outbreaks of RSV infections most often begin in the fall and run into the spring.
The infection can occur in people of all ages. The virus spreads through tiny droplets that go into the air when a sick person blows their nose, coughs, or sneezes.
You can catch RSV if:
RSV often spreads very rapidly in crowded households and day care centers. The virus can live for a half an hour or more on hands. The virus can also live for up to 5 hours on countertops and for several hours on used tissues.
The following increase the risk for RSV:
Symptoms vary and differ with age. They usually appear 4 - 6 days after coming in contact with the virus.
Older children usually have only mild, cold-like symptoms, such as cough, stuffy nose, or low-grade fever.
Infants under age 1 may have more severe symptoms and often have the most trouble breathing.
In general, RSV symptoms include:
Many hospitals and clinics can rapidly test for RSV using a sample of fluid taken from the nose with a cotton swab.
TreatmentAntibiotics do not treat RSV.
Mild infections go away without treatment.
Infants and children with a severe RSV infection may be admitted to the hospital . Treatment will include:
A breathing machine (ventilator) may be needed.
Expectations (prognosis)Rarely, RSV infection can cause death in infants. However, this is unlikely if the child is seen by a health care provider in the early stages of the disease .
More severe RSV disease may occur in the following infants:
In young children, RSV can cause:
Children who have had RSV bronchiolitis may be more likely to develop asthma.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if breathing difficulties or other symptoms of this disorder appear. Any breathing difficulties in an infant are an emergency. Seek medical attention right away.
PreventionA simple way to help prevent RSV infection is to wash your hands often, especially before touching your baby. It is important to make certain that other people, especially caregivers, take steps to avoid giving RSV to your baby.
The following simple steps can help protect your baby from getting sick:
Parents of high-risk young infants should avoid crowds during outbreaks of RSV. Moderate-to-large outbreaks are often reported in the local news and newspapers to provide parents with an opportunity to avoid exposure.
The drug Synagis (palivizumab) is approved for the prevention of RSV disease in children younger than 24 months who are at high risk for serious RSV disease. Ask your doctor if your child should receive this medicine.
ReferencesCommittee on Infectious Diseases. Modified recommendations for use of palivizumab for prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections. Pediatrics. 2009;124:1694-1701.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap158.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Evidence based clinical practice guideline for medical management of bronchiolitis in infants less than 1 year of age presenting with a first time episode. Cincinnati (OH): Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; 2006 May. 13 p.
Mcintosh K. Respiratory syncytial virus. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 257.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 01/24/2011
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus, the most frequent cause of serious respiratory tract infections in infants and children younger than 4 years of age. RSV causes nasal stuffiness and discharge, cough, and sometimes ear infections.
The medical term RSV refers to Respiratory Syncytial Virus. It is a virus that can cause fairly minor breathing problems for adults but can be very serious for young children.
Ribavirin is used by aerosol for treatment of hospitalized infants and young children with severe lower respiratory tract infections due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV infection is also called bronchiolitis, because it is marked in young children by inflammation of the bronchioles.
The rate of RSV infection is estimated to be 11.4 cases in every 100 children during their first year of life.
RSV infection usually runs its course in seven to 14 days. The cough may linger weeks longer.
Home treatment for RSV infection is primarily supportive. It involves taking steps to ease the child's breathing. Dehydration can be a problem
colds constipation diarrhea ear infections fever gastro-esophageal reflux disease(GRED) Respiratory Syncytial virus(RSV) Food Allergies Vomiting
Respiratory Syncitial VirusRSV stands for respiratory syncitial virus.
Ribavirin is an anti-viral drug indicated for severe RSV (Human respiratory syncytial virus) infection, hepatitis C infection and other viral infections. Ribavirin is a prodrug, which when metabolised resembles purine RNA nucleotides. In this form it interferes with RNA metabolism required for viral replication.
Some common childhood illnesses are RSV which is known as Respiratory syncytial virus, another one is known as Fifth Disease, also known as "slapped cheek" as it leaves a red mar across the child's cheek. Last but not least, diseases may be originated from the hands, feet, and mouth in children and one needs to be on the lookout for such common diseases.
Usually, yes. The most common causes are respiratory synsythial virus (RSV), parainfluenza viruses, influenza viruses. Metapneumovirus, human bocavirus, and a number of other recently discovered viruses are implicated as well.