Doc Talk: Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV

In our weekly feature, 'Doc Talk' we're learning more about a concerning virus for Valley Kids.

Pediatric Emergency doctor, Clint Pollack from Valley Children's Hospital talks about the dangers of RSV.

What is RSV and what causes it?

- Causes viral respiratory infections, especially during the fall and winter months.

- Usually peaks in January/February.

- Most common cause of lower respiratory (lung) infections in infants.

- Infection is spread the same way as a common cold virus, by contact with secretions or inhalation of droplets.

What kids are at a higher risk for serious cases?

- Usually takes about 4-6 days to develop symptoms after exposure.

- Children at higher risk for more serious infections include

- Infants younger than six-months-old

- Children with significant asthma

- Infants and children with underlying lung disease, such as chronic lung disease, or congenital heart disease

- Premature infants born before 35 weeks gestation

- Infants exposed to secondhand smoke

- Children with Down syndrome

- Immunocompromised patients (severe combined immunodeficiency, leukemia, or organ transplant)

What are the symptoms?

- Symptoms include cough, wheeze, fever, copious nasal secretions, and difficulty breathing.

- RSV can cause severe lung infections, especially in younger infants, with bronchiolitis, pneumonia, or respiratory failure.

- RSV can cause infants to stop breathing (apnea), especially very young or premature infants.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

- There is a test for RSV, done with a nasal swab, but diagnosis of RSV is usually based on clinical signs and symptoms. Testing is only done when the results will affect management.

- The treatment for RSV is supportive care, similar to a common URI: nasal suctioning, humidified air, medicine for fever, and good hydration.

- There is an antiviral medicine for RSV, but it is only recommended for immunocompromised or extremely ill patients.

- Antibiotics, inhaled albuterol, and steroids are not recommended.

- Cough medicines and decongestants should never be given to infants as they have never been proven to help and can have serious or fatal side effects.

- Children with mild cold symptoms can be managed supportively at home and do not need to see a doctor.

- Infants with more severe symptoms (difficulty breathing, increased work of breathing, shortness of breath, pale, dusky, lethargic, unable to feed, dehydrated) should be seen by a doctor urgently.