FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OVER $49
May 20, 2024 4 min read
RSV is a common viral infection that most children have before their second birthday. In most babies and young children, RSV is usually labeled as a ‘bad cold,’ but very young infants and those with lung problems or other medical conditions can become sick enough to require hospitalization. How can you tell if your child has RSV, and what can you do to help them through the illness at home?
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, is a highly contagious virus that spreads through contact with an infected person’s saliva, mucus, or respiratory secretions (snot). The vast majority of RSV cases are mild and produce cold-like symptoms. However, young infants and children with compromised immune systems can suffer from more severe illness and may require hospitalization.
RSV is usually diagnosed based on the symptoms. Lab tests can differentiate RSV from other viral infections like influenza or COVID-19 but are generally only ordered when a healthcare provider will change their treatment plan based on results. There is no specific antiviral treatment for RSV, so your doctor may not even order the lab test.
RSV is characterized by cold-like symptoms such as:
RSV symptoms generally start to appear within 3-8 days after exposure and last about 7-10 days. Days 4-7 are usually the ‘worst’ days for symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no treatment to cure RSV or shorten the duration of illness. The best thing to do is to focus on providing comfort and symptom relief to your little one.
Caring for a sick child can be scary, and RSV infections are no exception. However, even the best care won’t keep all children out of the hospital. Some red flag symptoms to watch for include:
If you are concerned about your child, call your child’s doctor, 911, or seek immediate medical care.
Experts expect infants and young children to ‘catch’ 6-10 colds per year. RSV and COVID-19 are just two of many viruses that cause cold symptoms. Testing isn’t necessary most of the time because it won’t change the treatment plan.
It’s almost impossible to tell by symptoms alone in babies and young children because they can’t tell you what hurts or how they feel. Fussiness, fatigue, and a cough could easily be caused by a cold, COVID-19, the flu, or RSV.
Testing can help distinguish RSV from influenza. Healthcare providers often have a good idea based on the time of year and symptoms, but testing helps prepare caregivers for what to expect. If it’s RSV, we talk about supportive care. If it’s flu, antiviral medications may be prescribed to shorten the duration of illness and hopefully prevent complications.
Stock your home medicine cabinet with a few essential items so you’re prepared to support your little one through the most common symptoms of RSV, influenza, and other coughs and colds.
RSV, the flu, and colds all have common symptoms in babies, toddlers, and young children. The main treatments for these common illnesses is to provide comfort and keep little ones hydrated when they don’t feel well. Make sure your home medicine cabinet is well stocked so you are prepared for coughs and sniffles that are inevitable parts of winter.
Comments will be approved before showing up.