What is RSV? - St. Louis Children`s Hospital

Symptoms of RSV
Treatment
•coughing
The best treatment for
your child with RSV is rest
and drinking plenty of
fluids. Special medications
are usually not needed.
Antibiotics won’t work against
RSV since it is a virus. A fever
medicine may make your
child more comfortable, but
check with your child’s doctor
if under 3 months of age. It
is important not to give your
child aspirin.
•sneezing
•runny nose
•congestion and excessive mucus
•low fever
•wheezing
•tiredness
•sore throat
What is RSV?
RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus. It is
a virus that causes infection of the lungs and
breathing passages. RSV is often mistaken for
a cold but it can cause pneumonia and other
serious lung problems. RSV occurs most often in
infants and children under the age of 3.
Other children at higher risk for RSV include:
•children that were born prematurely
•children born in a multiple birth (twins, triplets,
etc.)
•children with chronic lung or heart conditions
Your child may continue to cough, sneeze and
have a stuffy nose for a few weeks after the onset
of RSV. Your child may also get RSV more than
once, but the symptoms are usually less severe
after the first time. Preventing the Spread of RSV
RSV is easily spread from person to person
through coughs, sneezes and touching someone
with the virus. The virus can live for many hours
on objects and surfaces such as toys, towels and
blankets, tissues, doorknobs and sinks. A person
can get the virus just by touching an object that
has germs on it.
Wash your hands and your child’s hands often
with soap and warm water to prevent spreading
infections.
•children with a weakened immune system (on
immunosuppressant medicines, HIV, etc.)
RSV is most contagious during the first 2 - 4 days
of the infection, however it can be spread up to 3
weeks after the start of symptoms.
If your child falls into one of these categories,
he/she may get a medicine called Synagis®. This
medicine helps prevent RSV.
Check with your child’s doctor before sending
him/her back to school or daycare since they
may still spread the infection to others.
To help make your child more
comfortable, try the following tips:
•Offer popsicles or frozen fruit pops. For infants,
continue to offer small, frequent feedings/bottles.
•Keep your child’s nose mucus-free. For children
older than 1 year of age, loosen or unblock dried
or thick mucus by instilling three saline nose drops
into each nostril. Wait one minute, then gently use a
soft rubber suction bulb to remove the mucus. Repeat
2 - 3 times. For children under age 1, use one drop
of saline nose drops in each nostril. Clean out your
child’s nose before breast or bottle feeding and
before putting your child to sleep.
•Do not let anyone smoke around your child. The
smoke can make breathing difficult and increase
coughing.
•For fever greater than 102 degrees or if your child is
uncomfortable, give acetaminophen every four hours
or ibuprofen every six hours if appropriate.
Call 911 if:
•Child is having severe difficulty breathing
(struggling for each breath, unable to cry
or speak, making grunting noise with each
breath)
•Child has bluish lips, tongue or face
Call child’s physician or seek
medical attention immediately if:
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
One Children’s Place
St. Louis, Missouri 63110
•Child has fever of 105 degrees or higher
•Child is less than 12 weeks old with fever
100.4 degrees or greater
•Child is having labored or difficult breathing
not relieved by cleaning out the nose
•Child is having symptoms of dehydration (i.e.
less than 12 months of age and no urine in the
diaper in 8 hours or older than 12 months and
no urine in 12 hours; poor activity level; very
sticky, dry mouth)
Call child’s physician
during office hours if:
314.454.6000
We’re Ready for Your Call
For questions about childhood health and
development, including those about RSV, or for
assistance in choosing a pediatrician, our pediatric
nurses can help.
Call the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Answer Line at
314.454.KIDS (5437) or 800.678.KIDS (5437).
•Child’s cough is keeping them from sleeping
and playing
•Fever returns after being gone for 24 hours
and symptoms worsen or do not improve
RSV
Respiratory
Syncytial Virus
•Wheezing more than 7 days
•Cough has been present more than 3 weeks
The information contained in these topics is not intended
nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical
advice, it is provided for educational purposes only.
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