When you think about RSV, you probably think about the serious risk it can pose for babies, children under 5 and older adults. And with good reason. Those populations are most likely to become severely ill from RSV.
But RSV doesn’t discriminate based on age. Anyone, at any age, can be infected. Elementary school-aged children and teens, even if they had RSV as babies, are often reinfected multiple times.
Learn how to spot the signs of RSV in your child and know when those symptoms might warrant a trip to the doctor.
What is RSV?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory infection. It’s so common in babies and young children that 90% of children get RSV at some point before their second birthday.
RSV can affect the upper and lower respiratory tract. Mild versions are difficult to distinguish from a common cold.
Babies and young children can sometimes become severely ill from RSV. In fact, RSV infection leads to hospitalization for up to 80,000 babies and kids 4 and younger each year. It’s also the leading cause of pneumonia and bronchitis in babies.
RSV symptoms
For the majority of people (including babies and children under 5), RSV is not serious. In older, otherwise healthy children, it’s usually hard to tell the difference between RSV and a cold.
Common RSV symptoms in older children include:
- Congestion
- Cough
- Decreased appetite
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Runny nose
Is RSV dangerous for older kids?
Typically, RSV does not cause severe illness in older kids. For most kids 5 and over, getting RSV results only in mild symptoms that go away on their own after a week or two.
But in babies, young children and older kids with weakened immune systems, symptoms can be more severe. More serious symptoms of RSV can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing
Kids of any age with severe lung or respiratory issues from RSV may require hospitalization and supplemental oxygen.
When to see the doctor if your kid has RSV
The majority of children with RSV (at any age) don’t get sick enough to need a trip to the doctor. There is no specific treatment for RSV — just treatment to help alleviate symptoms.
If your kid’s symptoms are similar to a cold, all the same remedies can apply. You can give ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever. And use other over-the-counter medications to soothe a cough or sore throat and relieve nasal congestion.
If your child’s symptoms don’t improve within two weeks, it’s a good idea to check with your pediatrician. They can do a simple test for RSV by taking a sample of fluid from the nose. If symptoms include severe cough or any breathing difficulties, your doctor may also take chest X-rays to check for signs of pneumonia in the lungs.
How to prevent the spread of RSV
RSV is a viral infection that spreads easily through respiratory droplets. That means that if someone with RSV coughs or sneezes near you, you could breathe in virus particles. You can also pick it up if you touch a surface contaminated with virus particles and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
Preventing the spread of RSV means taking the same sorts of precautions you take to stay healthy from colds, flu and COVID. These include:
- Cleaning high-touch surfaces often (doorknobs, faucets, countertops)
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Frequent handwashing
- Wearing a mask
While most older kids are unlikely to get severely ill from RSV, practicing prevention can help keep more-vulnerable family members safe – and help everyone stay as healthy as possible.
