RSV season varies according to region, but in most areas, it begins in October and runs through April. You can find out when RSV season is where you live by visiting the Centers for Disease Control's RSV Surveillance website.
What is RSV? RSV (or respiratory syncytial virus) is one of the many viruses that cause respiratory illness―illnesses of the nose, throat and lungs. This virus usually occurs in the late fall through early spring months, but can vary in different parts of the country.
In most regions of the United States and other areas with similar climates, RSV season typically starts during the fall and peaks in the winter.
When should you seek medical care? RSV symptoms typically peak on days 3 through 5 after infection. Fortunately, almost all children recover from an RSV infection on their own.
Symptoms of RSV are usually common cold symptoms: cough, runny nose. The difference is the runny nose is going to be significantly mucusy, copious amounts of mucus. You can get some redness of the eyes, coughing, sore, scratchy throat.
Many say the uptick in cases is likely because people weren't exposed much in the past two years with masking and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's some information for parents to help protect children from RSV and to know the first signs of severe infection.
Children with RSV typically have two to four days of upper respiratory tract symptoms, such as fever and runny nose/congestion. These are then followed by lower respiratory tract symptoms, like increasing wheezing cough that sounds wet and forceful with increased work breathing.
In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms. These may include: Congested or runny nose. Dry cough.
In adults and older children, RSV is typically a mild illness very similar to the common cold. In infants and the elderly, the symptoms can be more severe.
Rapid breathing at a rate of over 40 breaths per minute. Tight breathing (having to work hard to push air out). Coughing (may cough up very sticky mucus). Fever and a runny nose often start before the breathing problems.
People infected with RSV are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days and may become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness. However, some infants, and people with weakened immune systems, can continue to spread the virus even after they stop showing symptoms, for as long as 4 weeks.
The humoral immune response normally results in the development of anti-RSV neutralizing-antibody titers, but these are often suboptimal during an infant's initial infection. Even when the production of RSV neutralizing antibody following RSV infection is robust, humoral immunity wanes over time.
However, RSV can lead to serious infection, particularly in infants and young children, and in older children who have certain chronic conditions, such as asthma.
Call your child's health care provider if your child: seems sick, shows signs of RSV and is less than 6 months of age or at high risk. has thick mucus from the nose or mouth that is yellow, green or gray.
Transmission of RSV in cooler climates is inversely related to temperature possibly as a result of increased stability of the virus in secretions in the colder environment.
With similar symptoms for all three infections, this comprehensive test helps you determine your COVID-19, flu, and RSV status with one short swab. It's easy. We'll send you an at-home collection kit to collect your nasal swab sample.
RSV is nothing new — “It's been around forever,” Yager said — but this RSV season is unique for a few reasons. One is because immunity against the virus has waned with fewer infections during the winters of 2020 and 2021. Another explanation is a change in human behavior.
The child may also have a hoarse cough and a very congested rattling in the chest, which often worsens during the night. Depending upon the severity of the symptoms and the condition of your child, you may call your pediatrician for advice.
Avoid close contact with sick people. Wash your hands often. [Picture of person washing hands with soap under running water.] Cover your coughs & sneezes.
Most people with RSV remain contagious for 3 to 8 days. Young infants and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious for weeks. People can be contagious even if they don't have a fever or any other RSV symptoms. If you have RSV, stay home as much as possible until you're no longer contagious.
People with RSV are usually contagious for three to eight days. They can be contagious a day or two before they show symptoms. Babies and people with weakened immune systems (immunocompromised) who get the virus can spread it for up to a month.
To prevent nosocomial spread, infants and young children with suspected RSV infection should be placed on contact isolation.
How long does RSV last? People with mild RSV may have symptoms for 3-8 days, but the virus can linger for several weeks. “A mild cough can linger for a long time, four to eight weeks at times, and can be normal,” Payden said.
Symptoms of RSV are similar to other respiratory infections. Illness begins 4 to 6 days after being exposed to the virus. In adults and older children, typical RSV symptoms include a low-grade fever, congested or runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache, fatigue, and occasionally wheezing.