What You Should Know About RSV: Symptoms, Prevention, Care

RSV is a common virus that can affect anyone of any age, and its symptoms are generally mild and manageable,” said Col. Patrick Kennedy, chief of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division at the Defense Health Agency. “However, certain populations such as infants, especially premature infants or babies who are 6 months or younger, are at higher risk of serious disease. TRICARE encourages you to be familiar with the signs of RSV and see your health care provider if you think you or a family member has RSV.”
 
Recognizing RSV symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), RSV symptoms can appear in stages—not all at once—about four to six days after infection. Some signals that you may have RSV usually include:

• Fever
• Runny nose
• Decrease in appetite
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Wheezing

 
Signs of RSV in very young infants may be irritability, decreased activity, having a hard time breathing, and breathing apnea (pauses between breaths). The most serious symptom of RSV is difficulty breathing. If your child’s breathing is rapid, as if they’re trying to “catch their breath,” or if you can see their ribs when they breathe, seek medical care immediately.
 
Preventing RSV
Most children will have had RSV before age 2, but anyone can catch RSV again. RSV is highly contagious and there’s currently no vaccine for the virus. Take extra care to keep infants or young children healthy, especially those who:

• Were born prematurely
• Have chronic lung or heart disease
• Have a weakened immune system

 
The CDC suggests these proactive steps to protect others and to avoid getting sick with RSV:

• Wash your hands often for 20 seconds with soap and water, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid close contact with people who have cold-like symptoms.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Always cover sneezes and coughs with a tissue or upper shirt sleeve.
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, toys, and mobile devices.RSV is a common virus that can affect anyone of any age, and its symptoms are generally mild and manageable,” said Col. Patrick Kennedy, chief of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division at the Defense Health Agency. “However, certain populations such as infants, especially premature infants or babies who are 6 months or younger, are at higher risk of serious disease. TRICARE encourages you to be familiar with the signs of RSV and see your health care provider if you think you or a family member has RSV.”
   
  Recognizing RSV symptoms
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), RSV symptoms can appear in stages—not all at once—about four to six days after infection. Some signals that you may have RSV usually include:
  • Fever
  • Runny nose
  • Decrease in appetite
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Wheezing
   
  Signs of RSV in very young infants may be irritability, decreased activity, having a hard time breathing, and breathing apnea (pauses between breaths). The most serious symptom of RSV is difficulty breathing. If your child’s breathing is rapid, as if they’re trying to “catch their breath,” or if you can see their ribs when they breathe, seek medical care immediately.
   
  Preventing RSV
  Most children will have had RSV before age 2, but anyone can catch RSV again. RSV is highly contagious and there’s currently no vaccine for the virus. Take extra care to keep infants or young children healthy, especially those who:
  • Were born prematurely
  • Have chronic lung or heart disease
  • Have a weakened immune system
   
  The CDC suggests these proactive steps to protect others and to avoid getting sick with RSV:
  • Wash your hands often for 20 seconds with soap and water, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid close contact with people who have cold-like symptoms.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Always cover sneezes and coughs with a tissue or upper shirt sleeve.
  • Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, toys, and mobile devices.
  • Stay at home if you feel sick
• Stay at home if you feel sick.