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.
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.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is not a genetic disease. It is a common respiratory infection that affects people of all ages, particularly young children and older adults. RSV is caused by a virus, not by genetic factors.
The ICD-10 code for acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is J21.0, which specifically refers to "Acute bronchiolitis due to respiratory syncytial virus." This code is used for cases where RSV causes bronchiolitis, primarily affecting infants and young children. For other RSV-related conditions, different codes may be applicable.
The acronym RSVSRA stands for "Respiratory Syncytial Virus Specific Receptor Alpha." It is a protein on human cells that the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) binds to when infecting the respiratory tract.
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.
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
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Yes, anyone can get respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), but it is most common in infants and young children. Adults, especially those with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions, can also contract RSV. While many people experience mild symptoms similar to a cold, RSV can lead to more severe respiratory issues in vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with chronic health problems.
Respiratory Syncitial VirusRSV stands for respiratory syncitial virus.