It’s that time of year – if you don’t have a cold or haven’t had one yet, it seems only a matter of time before you or your kids will have one. You probably know that colds are caused by a wide range of viruses, which is the main reason why we can’t ever seem to stop catching one. You may have also heard of a specific virus known as RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the specific viruses which causes mild, cold-like symptoms.
A few facts about RSV.
- Almost all children will be infected with RSV before the age of 2.
- Most cases will exhibit only minor symptoms like other “colds,” but RSV is the leading cause for hospitalization in infants less than 1-year-old because it can lead to more serious infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia. About 25-40% of affected infants and children will develop bronchitis or pneumonia.
- RSV-related infections lead to more than 2 million visits to a doctor or emergency room in children under the age of 5.
- RSV can affect people of all ages. Premature babies and older adults with chronic medical conditions are more likely to develop serious secondary infections.
- Because people do not form long-lasting immunity to RSV, they can become infected repeatedly.
What are the symptoms of RSV?
RSV can cause a wide variety of symptoms, from very mild to life-threatening. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Nasal congestion, runny nose, mild cough, and low-grade fever are the typical initial symptoms.
- Hoarse, “barking” cough.
- Fever which can become higher as the illness progresses.
