What Parents Need to Know About RSV: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Guest Post By Genevieve Kane, MSN, RN

Fall is in the air! Along with fall and winter comes flu and cold season. While most kids only become mildly ill with bugs, a few viruses can become severe. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of those viruses that can cause severe illness in little ones.

What Parents Need to Know As RSV Season Kicks Off

If you are a parent or caregiver, you have probably heard about RSV. While RSV can make parents nervous, there are several steps you can take at home to keep your little one comfortable. Here, we break down what parents need to know about RSV as RSV season kicks off so you can feel prepared to help your little one feel better!

What is RSV?

RSV is a respiratory virus that infects most kids before they are two years old, per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Both kids and adults will likely experience an RSV infection several times throughout their lives. However, RSV will feel like a common cold for most older kids and adults. The first RSV infection is typically the most severe, and subsequent infections are less problematic.

It’s spread like the common cold, too, per the AAP. You can catch RSV by coming into contact with an infected person’s saliva, mucus, or nasal discharge. For example, your little one may have a friend who only has sniffles and is out playing but actually has RSV and sneezes on your child. Your child could then become sick with RSV.

While RSV is typically mild in most older kids and adults, it can cause worse illness in those with underlying health conditions. One example is asthma. If you or your child has asthma and catches RSV, it could trigger more asthma attacks.

For infants under one, the AAP explains that RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization in that age group. In fact, for every 100 babies who catch RSV and are under a year old, 2 to 3 will need to be hospitalized. These babies may need treatment such as help breathing, oxygen, and fluids.

Symptoms of RSV

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that RSV season starts in the fall and peaks in the winter, but the timing and severity of RSV season in a given community can vary from year to year.

Many symptoms of RSV are similar to those of the common cold and include:

Fever
Cough
Runny nose
Congestion
Sneezing
Poor feeding
General fussiness

More severe signs of RSV are increased work breathing and a blue tint to the nails or lips. Fortunately, there is a simple nasal swab test for RSV through a healthcare provider. Other respiratory bugs can also be tested for at the same time, too.

Treating RSV at Home

You can take several measures at home to help comfort your little one. Nemours KidsHealth explains that you can allow your child plenty of rest and fluids. Since your child may not drink well when they feel sick, you can offer small amounts of fluids to avoid dehydration.

A cool-mist humidifier that's cleaned daily can also help. Fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (aka Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (aka Motrin®) are another option, depending on your child's age and instructions from your medical provider.

Monitoring Temperature

The Dr. Noze Best Thermometer provides a quick, touch-free temperature reading, making it easy to check on your little one throughout the day or night.

Clearing a Stuffy Nose

If you have an infant, try to time nasal aspiration with feeds so your little nose-breathing baby can eat their food more efficiently. And if you haven’t already tried the NozeBot, consider adding this essential tool to your first aid kit before RSV season. It makes clearing your little one’s nose much easier!

Soothing Congested Airways

RSV can cause congestion and increased mucus, which can make breathing feel harder for little ones. Adding moisture to the airways can help loosen congestion and soothe dry, irritated airways. The quiet, cordless Dr. Noze Best Nebulizer delivers an ultra-fine mist of saline to help loosen congestion and soothe dry, irritated airways, making illness a little easier for the entire family.

When to Call Your Provider

If at any point you’re worried about your baby, it is always appropriate to seek the advice of a medical professional. Other reasons to seek medical care include, but are not limited to, any of the following, according to Seattle Children’s:

Young infant eight weeks and under with a fever (100.4Ⓕ or greater)
A fever of 104Ⓕ or greater
Lethargic or hard to arouse
Dehydrated (dry mouth, no tears when crying, fewer wet diapers)
Breathing faster or harder
Has another health condition and RSV

When to Go to the ER or Call 911

Situations that are an emergency and require a visit to the emergency department or 911 call include any signs or symptoms of difficulty breathing. These can include, but are not limited to:

Flaring nostrils
Grunting
Wheezing
Blue tinge to lips or nail beds
Retractions (looks like skin getting drawn in over or under the ribs when the baby breaths)
Fast breathing

These lists are not exhaustive. If you are concerned about your child, contact a medical provider for advice or take your child in to be seen. One of the main risk factors with RSV is the increased work to breathe it can cause in infants. If in doubt, have your child evaluated and treated as necessary.

Preventing RSV

For the most part, becoming sick with RSV during RSV season is inevitable. However, preventing infection through your baby’s first year of life may significantly decrease their risk of developing asthma.

Per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), infants who did not experience an RSV infection during their first year of life were 26% less likely to develop asthma by age five than their peers who did experience an RSV infection early on.

Ways to prevent RSV include basics such as washing hands regularly and cleaning high-touch surfaces. You can also ask friends and family not to kiss your baby and to stay home if they are ill. And if your baby has older siblings, do your best to help teach your older children to stay away from the baby if they are sick (including a runny nose), not put their fingers in their sibling's mouths, and wash their hands when they come home from school.

Another way to prevent severe RSV is through RSV immunization. The CDC recommends protecting babies through one of two options: a maternal RSV vaccine given during pregnancy or a long-acting RSV antibody given to the baby. Most babies do not need both.

The maternal RSV vaccine is given during weeks 32–36 of pregnancy and can help protect the baby against RSV for approximately six months after birth. A long-acting RSV antibody, such as nirsevimab or clesrovimab, can be given to babies and provides immediate protection against RSV for at least five months. Some young children may also be eligible for nirsevimab.

Talk with your child's healthcare provider about which RSV immunization option may be appropriate for your baby.

Looking for more tips on caring for sick kids? You’ll find these helpful:

Key Takeaways

RSV can be frightening. No one likes to see their child sick, and RSV can be especially scary since it can significantly affect your child’s ability to breathe. However, understanding what RSV is, the signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention are all essential need-to-know information as the RSV season kicks off.

So, if your infant gets ill this year during RSV season and you suspect RSV, do your best to help them be comfortable at home. Illness during cold and flu season definitely calls for extra snuggle time! And, if you notice any signs or symptoms that point to difficulty breathing, your baby is a newborn with a fever, or you’re concerned, reach out to a healthcare provider for advice.

Genevieve Kane, MSN, RN, is a mother of four and a registered nurse with a background in pediatrics. When she's not working, you can find her cooking up tasty family dinners or keeping up with her kids on a hiking trail in her home state of Colorado.

This blog post is for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice from your healthcare provider. Always consult your pediatrician with specific questions about your child's health.

The NozeBot can ease your stress of RSV season

The Nozebot is a battery-powered suction device designed to clear nasal congestion in babies and children.

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