What Is RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that is responsible for infecting the lungs and the respiratory tract. This is one of the most common viral infections in babies, as almost all babies would have been infected with this virus by age 2. In some cases, the respiratory syncytial virus can also affect adults and cause infections.
The infections are not severe in adults and healthy children, and the symptoms will be very similar to the common cold. Usually, self-care measures are enough to manage the symptoms. But in the case of babies under 12 months, the infections might turn out to be more severe, especially babies born prematurely. Also, severe infections are possible in older people with heart and lung disease or weak immune systems.
What Are the Symptoms Of RSV Infections?
The symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection usually appear 4 to 6 days after exposure to the virus. Based on the affected people, the signs and symptoms differ.
For healthy children and adults, the symptoms are:
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Congested or runny nose.
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Dry cough.
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Sneezing.
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Low-grade fever.
Though these are the most common symptoms, the virus can spread through the respiratory tract and cause pneumonia or bronchitis in some severe cases.
Some of the symptoms associated with severe infections include:
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Fever.
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Rapid breathing or breathing difficulty.
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Severe cough.
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Wheezing.
As mentioned earlier, these infections are most common in babies, and hence the signs and symptoms of RSV in infants are:
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Short, shallow, and rapid breathing.
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Lethargy or unusual tiredness.
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Struggling to breathe.
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Poor feeding.
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Irritability.
What Are the Causes Of RSV Infections?
As the name suggests, the virus is the only cause of respiratory syncytial viral infections. The respiratory syncytial virus will usually enter the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Upon entering, it will spread through the air throughout the respiratory system.
The virus is contagious and can spread from one person to another through direct contact, such as shaking hands, and through the air, such as when an infected person coughs and the virus gets suspended in the air. The virus can survive for hours on hard materials, such as toys, cribs, etc.; hence, if the baby touches his eye, mouth, or nose after touching the contaminated object, it leads to infection.
The infected person will be most contagious during the first week of the infection. But in the case of infants and weak immune persons, the virus has the possibility of spreading for almost four weeks even after the symptoms go away.
What Are Some of the Risk Factors Of RSV Infections?
As children are most susceptible to RSV infections, most babies get infected by the age of 2, and there are cases where the babies can be affected by RSV more than once. Children who attend childcare centers or babies who have siblings that attend school have a high risk of getting infections. The period between fall and the end of spring is considered the prime period of RSV infections.
Some of the people who have a higher chance of getting life-threatening RSV infections include,
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Infants between one to 6 months and premature babies.
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Children with neuromuscular disorders, such as muscular dystrophy.
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Children with weak immune systems due to cancer and chemotherapy.
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Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and chronic lung disease.
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Adults with heart and lung disease.
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Older adults that are above the age of 65.
What Are Some of the Complications Of RSV Infections?
There are no major complications that are associated with respiratory syncytial viral infections, but some possible developments after the infections include:
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Hospitalization – In severe cases, for IV fluids and monitoring breathing patterns.
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Asthma – Chances of asthma in old age increase after RSV infection.
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Middle Ear Infections – In babies, if the virus enters the space behind the eardrum, which is also called otitis media.
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Pneumonia – If the infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract, it can lead to inflammation of the lungs. This condition is more severe in infants, old people, and immunocompromised people.
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Repeated Infections – RSV infections can occur more than once. Hence, in people with heart and lung diseases and immunocompromised people, repeated infections can cause serious symptoms.
How Is RSV Infection Diagnosed?
The doctor can diagnose respiratory syncytial viral infections with the help of physical examinations based on the symptoms and considering the time of the year in which they occur. Using a stethoscope, the doctor will check the breathing for any wheezing or abnormal sounds.
Laboratory tests and other imaging tests are usually unnecessary for diagnosing infections. Still, however, to rule out other complications that might cause similar symptoms, the doctor may ask for some tests such as:
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Blood test – To look for the virus, bacteria, or other microorganisms and count white blood cells.
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Chest X-ray – For checking lung inflammation.
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Cheek or nose swabs – For signs of the virus.
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Pulse oximetry – To detect the level of oxygen in the blood.
How Is RSV Infection Treated?
Respiratory syncytial viral infection usually involves self-care (supportive treatment) measures to manage the signs and symptoms. But in cases of severe infections, hospital care might be required.
Supportive Care:
The doctor might suggest over-the-counter medications for reducing fever, such as Acetaminophen. For stuffy noses, suctioning and nasal saline drops might help. And in case of any bacterial complications, such as bacterial pneumonia, the doctor might prescribe antibiotics.
The main objective is to keep the baby as comfortable as possible. Look for signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, little or no urine output, extreme sleepiness, and sunken eyes. Be sure to offer a lot of fluids to help overcome these signs of dehydration.
Hospital Care:
A hospital stay might be required in severe cases of respiratory syncytial viral infections.
Some of the hospital treatments include,
1. Administering IV fluids.
2. Humidified oxygen.
3. Mechanical ventilation in rare cases.
How Is RSV Infection Prevented?
There is no preventive vaccination that is available for respiratory syncytial viral infections. But some lifestyle habits mentioned below can help prevent the spread of infections.
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Washing hands frequently.
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Avoiding exposure to infected people.
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Keeping things and toys clean.
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Not sharing the glasses with others.
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Sanitizing the toys after each use if the child or the playmate is sick.
Conclusion:
Respiratory syncytial virus infection is very common and can easily be managed from home comfort. In rare cases, the symptoms might be severe and require medical attention or hospitalization. So, be sure to keep the environment safe and hygienic for the baby to avoid spreading the virus. Reach your doctor for over-the-counter medications and medical attention in case of severe infections.
