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About viruses

Definition

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus that leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can be more serious in young babies and elderly people, especially those in certain high-risk groups. RSV is the most common germ causing lung and airway infections in infants and young children.

Most infants have had this infection by the age of 2. Outbreaks of RSV infections most often begin in the fall and run into the spring. The infection can occur in people of all ages. The virus spreads through tiny droplets that go into the air when a sick person blows their nose, coughs, or sneezes.

Incubation period

Symptoms can vary greatly and differ with age: they usually appear 4 to 6 days after coming into contact with the virus.

Older children most often have only mild, cold-like symptoms, such as croup cough (often described as a “seal bark” cough), stuffy nose, or low-grade fever.

Infants under the age 1 may experience more severe symptoms and often have trouble with breathing:

  • bluish skin colour due to a lack of oxygen (cyanosis) in more severe cases;
  • breathing difficulty or laboured breathing;
  • rapid breathing (tachypnea);
  • shortness of breath;
  • wheezing.

Treatment

Antibiotics cannot treat infections caused by RSV. Mild infections go away without treatment. Infants and children with a severe RSV infection may be admitted to the hospital. Main treatments are:

  • oxygen;
  • moist (humidified) air;
  • suctioning of nasal secretions;
  • fluids through a vein;
  • a breathing machine (ventilator), if needed;
  • monitoring (prognosis).

More severe RSV disease may occur in the following infant patients:

  • premature infants;
  • infants with chronic lung disease;
  • infants whose immune system is developing;
  • infants with certain forms of heart disease.

Rarely, RSV infection can cause death in infants. However, this is unlikely if the child is seen by a healthcare provider in the early stages of the disease.
Children who have had RSV bronchiolitis may be more likely to develop asthma.

Prevention

To prevent RSV infection, wash your hands often, especially before touching your baby. Make certain that other people, especially caregivers, take steps to avoid your baby contracting RSV.

The following simple steps can help protect your baby from getting sick.

Ensure that others wash their hands with warm water and soap before touching your baby.
Have others avoid contact with the baby if they have a cold or fever. If necessary, have them wear a mask.
Be aware that kissing the baby can spread RSV infection. Try to keep young children away from your baby. RSV is very common among young children and easily spreads from child to child.
Do not smoke inside your house, car, or anywhere near your baby. Exposure to tobacco smoke increases the risk of RSV illness.
Parents of high-risk young infants should avoid crowds during outbreaks of RSV. Moderate-to-large outbreaks are often reported by local news sources to provide parents with an opportunity to avoid exposure.

More references

  1. John, Pramod R. John (2008). Textbook of Oral Medicine. Jaypee Brothers Publishers. p. 336. ISBN9788180615627.. CDC. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  2. Eccles R (November 2005). „Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza“. Lancet Infect Dis. 5(11): 718–25.
  3. Bennett, John E.; Dolin, Raphael; Blaser, Martin J. (2014). Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 750. ISBN9781455748013.
  4. Allan, GM; Arroll, B (18 February 2014). „Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence.“. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association.
  5. Heikkinen T, Järvinen A (January 2003). „The common cold“. Lancet. 361(9351): 51–9. Arroll, B (March 2011). „Common cold“. Clinical evidence. 2011 (3): 1510. 3275147 . 21406124.
  6. Kim, SY; Chang, YJ; Cho, HM; Hwang, YW; Moon, YS (21 September 2015). „Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the common cold.“. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 9: CD006362.
  7. Simasek M, Blandino DA (2007). „Treatment of the common cold“. American Family Physician.
  8. Pelczar (2010). Microbiology: Application Based Approach. p. 656
  9. Michael Rajnik; Robert W Tolan (13 Sep 2013). „Rhinovirus Infection“. Medscape Reference. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  10. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 27 November 2006. Archived from the the original 6 September 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2007.
  11. Eccles, Ronald; Weber, Olaf (2009). Common cold.