Every fall and winter, a familiar set of illnesses makes the rounds – colds, flu, and more recently, COVID-19. But another virus also causes a significant number of respiratory infections, especially among young children and older adults. It’s called respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
Though RSV often feels like a common cold for many people, it can sometimes lead to more serious illness. Understanding what it is, who’s at risk, and the ways it can be prevented can help all of us stay healthier this RSV season.
What Is RSV?
According to Mount Carmel neonatologist and medical director for the Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Dr. Maclain Magee, RSV is a highly contagious virus that infects the cells of the respiratory tract.
“The virus spreads easily through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, as well as through contact with people and surfaces,” she said. “Unlike other viruses, though, healthy adults with RSV can be contagious for as many as 8 days while infants and immunocompromised people can remain contagious for up to 4 weeks.”
In otherwise healthy adults and older children, RSV usually runs its course within a week or two without complications. For infants, older adults, and people who are immunocompromised, though, it can become a serious illness requiring immediate medical attention.
“In infants in particular, it can quickly progress to bronchiolitis and pneumonia,” said Dr. Magee. “In fact, it’s the number one cause of hospitalizations among children, leading to more than 80,000 admissions each year.”
And because recovery for those affected can take time, it often creates a significant financial burden. “It can be a big economic strain, especially on new families,” she added.
RSV Symptoms
Most people experience mild cold-like symptoms with RSV, including runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and fever. And while those are similar to other respiratory viruses, there are signs that suggest a more serious problem.
“It may start out looking like a cold, but it can progress in severity pretty quickly,” Dr. Magee shared. “Rapid or difficult breathing, wheezing or worsening cough, high fever, and loss of appetite are often signs. Usually only severe cases require hospitalization, but if you’re at all concerned, it’s important to get to the ER, especially when it comes to infants who were preemies or people who are immunocompromised or have conditions like asthma or COPD.”
Treatment For RSV
RSV is easily diagnosed with a nasal swab, but according to Dr. Magee, there are few readily available medications for treatment yet (because RSV is a viral infection, antibiotics don’t work against it). Supportive care continues to be the best remedy. That can include:
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Using appropriate over-the-counter fever reducers or pain relievers
- Resting as much as possible
- Using a humidifier to ease breathing
If a patient is hospitalized, that care can escalate to include oxygen therapy/respiratory support, IV fluids, bronchodilators, and frequent suctioning.
“The fact that there aren’t great options for treatment is frustrating,” she added, “but it does show the importance of prevention.”
RSV Prevention
Preventing RSV has been a challenge for decades, but recent medical advances are turning the tide. Vaccines for expectant mothers, infants, and older adults became available in 2023 and have proven highly effective at reducing hospitalizations.
“Vaccines have become our best prevention tool,” said Dr. Magee. “When moms-to-be get the vaccine at least 14 days before they deliver, they transfer the antibodies to their babies. And newborns can receive a single dose up to 8 months of age to cover them for an entire RSV season. During the 2024-25 season we saw a 28-43% reduction in infant hospitalizations among those who got it, with very few complications or adverse events. It’s absolutely something to discuss with your provider.”
In addition to these advances in prevention, common-sense precautions like these are always important during RSV season (which tends to peak between October and March):
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Practicing good hand hygiene
- Avoiding close contact with anyone who’s sick
- Disinfecting high-touch surfaces
RSV has been around for a long time, but it’s too often flown under the radar compared to other seasonal viruses. Because of the impact it can have from both a health and financial standpoint on new families and those with compromising conditions, it deserves a lot more attention. Rising awareness, a growing understanding of the importance of protective habits, and the arrival of new preventive tools can help further reduce its impact. As long as we take RSV as seriously as it can be for the most vulnerable among us.
Talk to your primary care provider about RSV and see if vaccination is right for you. To schedule a convenient vaccination appointment, contact the Mount Carmel Outpatient Pharmacy.