Feeling Under the Weather? Identify, Treat, and Prevent RSV

If you or a family member comes down with cold-like symptoms, you might assume it’s the flu or COVID-19, but it could also be Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). RSV spreads easily and can affect anyone. The team at AHN Wexford Hospital wants you to know what to look for, when to reach out to your doctor, and how to protect yourself and others.

What is RSV, and how does RSV spread?

RSV is a respiratory virus that spreads when you inhale droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. You can also catch RSV by touching a shared surface — a doorknob, for example — and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

For most people, it causes mild cold-like symptoms. But for some, an RSV infection can become very serious, including in older adults, infants, and people with chronic health conditions. 

RSV is more dangerous and can take longer to recover from for:

• Adults age 75 and older.
• Adults ages 50–74 with health conditions such as morbid obesity, diabetes, COPD, or heart disease.
• Young children and infants. RSV can severely affect babies born premature or with a birth defect, as well as otherwise healthy babies.

What are the symptoms of RSV?

Common RSV symptoms include: 

• A runny nose
• Loss of appetite
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• A low-grade fever

While their symptoms can look very similar, RSV is different from the flu, which often causes higher fevers (103–104 degrees) and body aches. COVID-19 is often associated with loss of taste and smell, which doesn’t happen with RSV or the flu.

If you’re feeling unsure about symptoms, you can reach out to your primary care physician (PCP) to ask questions and see if you should be tested or treated.

How long does RSV last?

RSV usually lasts 10–14 days. Many people have mild symptoms and recover on their own with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicine.

In severe cases, RSV can last longer. It can make it hard to breathe or even put strain on the heart, which, in rare situations, can lead to serious medical emergencies.

When should you see a doctor?

If symptoms aren’t improving after two weeks, or if they get worse instead of better, you should contact your PCP or child’s pediatrician to schedule an appointment. Your doctor may start by testing you for the flu and COVID-19. If those tests are negative, they may test for RSV using a swab that goes in your nose.

If you are unable to see your doctor for any reason, you can visit an urgent or express care center for testing and treatment. Going to urgent care instead of the emergency room (ER) helps you get care faster and keeps ERs available for people with serious or life-threatening conditions.

How RSV is treated

There’s no single cure for RSV, but your doctor can help relieve symptoms and support your recovery. Depending on the severity of symptoms, RSV treatment may include:

• Over-the-counter cold medicine
• Oxygen or albuterol (asthma medication), if needed
• Steroids, antiviral medication, or oxygen therapy for severe symptoms treated in the hospital

How to prevent RSV

While it’s impossible to avoid every germ, there are things you can do to lower your risk of getting RSV and spreading it to others.

• Get vaccinated – Infants under eight months old, pregnant women, adults living in nursing homes, and adults age 75+ or 50–74 in a high-risk group, should get the vaccine.
• Practice good hygiene – Wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and clean high-touch surfaces, like doorknobs and phones.
• Stay home if you’re sick – Resting at home when you don’t feel well helps you recover faster and keeps others healthy. People can spread RSV a day or two before symptoms appear and stay contagious for up to a week after symptoms appear.

“Even with the best precautions, people still get sick sometimes,” said Anthony J. Ciampa, MD, Vice Chair of the AHN Primary Care Institute. “What matters most is listening to your body, getting care when you need it, and taking steps to protect others when you can.”

Getting the care you need

The team at AHN Wexford Hospital cares about helping you and your family get healthy again. If you feel sick and your symptoms aren’t improving, schedule an appointment with a family doctor to get evaluated and treated for RSV.