From the Guidelines
RSV symptoms typically include runny nose, decreased appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever, and wheezing, with severe cases leading to bronchiolitis or pneumonia, particularly in high-risk groups such as infants, young children, elderly adults, and immunocompromised individuals 1.
Key Symptoms
- Runny nose
- Decreased appetite
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
Severe Infection Signs
- Difficulty breathing
- Rapid breathing
- Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen
- Extreme fatigue
Treatment and Prevention
Treatment for RSV is primarily supportive, focusing on managing symptoms with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, following package dosing instructions 1.
High-Risk Groups
High-risk groups, such as infants, young children, elderly adults, and immunocompromised individuals, are more susceptible to severe RSV infections, which can lead to hospitalization for oxygen support, IV fluids, or mechanical ventilation 1.
Prevention
Prevention of RSV spread is crucial, and hand hygiene is key, as the virus spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face 1.
From the Research
RSV Symptoms and Treatment
- RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a major cause of respiratory tract infections in infants, young children, and older or immunocompromised adults 2.
- The symptoms of RSV infection can vary, but it commonly presents as bronchiolitis in infants under 1 year of age, hospitalizing 24.2 per 1000 infants each year in the United Kingdom 3.
- RSV infection can also cause significant morbidity and mortality in severely immunosuppressed patients 4.
- The treatment of RSV is primarily supportive, with an emphasis on prevention of RSV infection through infection control measures and the use of the RSV-specific monoclonal antibody, palivizumab, for certain high-risk groups of infants 2, 3.
- Ribavirin inhalation treatment may be considered in high-risk infants with clinical symptoms indicating a serious course of an RSV infection 5.
- New RSV antivirals and vaccines are currently in development, with several promising drug candidates in clinical trials 6.
High-Risk Groups
- Certain groups of infants are at high risk of RSV infection, including those with chronic respiratory diseases, premature infants, and those with weakened immune systems 5, 3.
- Palivizumab is recommended for children <2 years of age with chronic respiratory diseases requiring continuous treatment and children <6 months old who were born before gestational week 26 5.
- Immunocompromised patients, such as those who have received an allogenic stem cell transplantation or organ transplantation, may also benefit from palivizumab 5, 4.
Prevention and Management
- Prevention of RSV infection is crucial, particularly in high-risk groups, and can be achieved through infection control measures and the use of palivizumab 2, 3.
- Management of RSV infection is largely supportive, with a focus on relieving symptoms and preventing complications 3.
- Ongoing work is needed to improve the prevention of RSV infection and reduce the associated chronic respiratory morbidity after severe infection 3.