What Is RSV?
RSV stands for the respiratory syncytial virus. This virus causes a viral infection that affects the lungs of children and adults and leads to visits to the emergency department and hospitalization. RSV was first discovered in chimpanzees with coryza in 1955, and then it was later discovered in newborns and kids during an outbreak of bronchiolitis in the early 1960s. RSV is a member of the Orthopneumovirus genus and Pneumovirus family. According to the CDC (centers for disease control and prevention), in children under the age of one, RSV is the most frequent cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways known as bronchioles) and pneumonia (lung infection) in the United States.
Who Gets Affected by RSV?
RSV usually affects children; however, this infection can be more severe in the following:
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Premature infants.
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Infants under six months old.
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Infants with congenital heart or lung abnormalities.
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Adults aged 65 and more.
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Persons with weakened immune systems.
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People with chronic lung diseases.
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Those with congenital heart conditions.
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Children who have trouble swallowing or clearing their mucus.
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Children who have neuromuscular disorders.
What Are the Symptoms of RSV?
As RSV affects both children and adults, it shows different symptoms. However, the initial symptoms are generally similar to the common cold in both children and adults. Infected individuals with RSV typically experience symptoms four to six days after catching the infection. In addition, all the symptoms do not occur at once; they develop gradually.
1. Symptoms in Newborn Babies:
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Irritability.
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Less active.
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Trouble breathing.
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Cough.
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Fever.
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Reluctant in feeding.
2. Symptoms in Toddlers:
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Difficulty in swallowing.
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Fever.
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Coughing.
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Sneezing.
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Running nose.
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Abnormal breathing.
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Less active.
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Loss of appetite.
3. Symptoms in Adults:
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Headache.
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Fever.
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Tiredness.
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Cough.
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Runny nose.
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Congestion.
What Are the Alarming Symptoms?
As RSV affects breathing, it can create an alarming situation. Hence, everyone should be aware of the alarming symptoms and should visit the doctor immediately if encounters the following symptoms:
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Problems in breathing like noisy breathing, slow or fast breathing, pauses during breathing, or spreading out of nostrils during breathing.
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Severe dehydration or difficulty in drinking water.
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Showing signs of the scarcity of oxygen, such as blue or gray fingernails, lips, and mouths.
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Other symptoms are getting worse.
What Are the Mode of Transmission of RSV?
The modes of transmission of RSV are discussed below.
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When an RSV-infected person coughs or sneezes, the virus containing tiny droplets comes out of the nose and mouth and spreads into the surroundings. Individuals who come in contact with these droplets will also get infected.
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Transmission of this infection can occur through direct contact with the RSV, such as when an individual kisses an RSV-infected child’s face.
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Spread of RSV can also occur by touching a doorknob, table, or other surfaces with the virus on them, then touching the face without first washing the hands.
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RSV infection and exposure among children frequently occur outside the home, such as in daycare or schools. Hence, from children, this infection gets transmitted to other family members.
How Contagious Is RSV?
RSV patients typically have a contagious period of three to eight days, but they can become contagious up to two days before the occurrence of the symptoms. Nevertheless, newborns and people with low immune systems might keep transmitting the virus for up to four weeks after they cease exhibiting symptoms of RSV infection. Therefore, sometimes an individual who seems to have recovered from the infection might still be a carrier of this disease.
How Long Does RSV Stay Alive on Surfaces?
On hard surfaces like tables, doorknobs, and crib rails, RSV can survive for a long time. It spends most of its time on hands and soft surfaces, such as tissues. The virus can survive on surfaces for several hours and on hands for at least 30 minutes.
How Common Is RSV?
Most people acquire RSV for the first time as infants or toddlers, and almost all kids encounter it before the age of two. Moreover, people of any age can catch the virus again throughout their lives. Children and adults in good health tend to experience fewer severe infections than newborns and older persons with specific medical issues.
Interestingly, RSV circulation often begins in the autumn and peaks in the winter in the United States and other countries with a comparable climate. In a particular community, the frequency and severity of RSV transmission can change from one year to another.
What Is the Current State of Management in RSV?
RSV is currently mostly treated with supportive measures like additional oxygen supply, appropriate hydration, intravenous fluid (IV), intubation (placing a breathing tube through the mouth to reach the airway), and mechanical ventilator support when required. The only antiviral medication approved for use in treating RSV is Ribavirin, but only in patients with severe immune system impairments. This is due to its high price, ambiguous overall efficacy, probable toxicity concerns, and uncomfortable delivery route (aerosolized ribavirin, which requires a nebulizer).
Antibiotics are used for bacterial infections, and RSV infection is viral infection. Antibiotics are only recommended when the doctor suspects the possibility of bacterial superinfections. In rare cases, these bacterial superinfections can occur as a side effect of RSV infection.
Moreover, RSV infections typically resolve on their own within a week or two. CDC recommends symptomatic treatments for the affected individual, which involve:
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Using over-the-counter painkillers and medicines that lower the fever, such as Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen, to manage pain and temperature (except for Aspirin for kids).
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Consume enough liquids. It is crucial for patients with RSV infection to drink adequate water to prevent loss of body fluids.
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Prior to giving the child over-the-counter cold medications, consult with the doctor. This is because some medications have components that are harmful to children.
There is no vaccine for the prevention of RSV; however, scientists are working on it. For the prevention of RSV infection, currently, a drug is recommended, which is called Palivizumab. This drug can prevent some infants and kids who are considered at a high risk of developing a severe form of RSV. For example, infants born with congenital abnormalities of the lung or preterm children.
The most important thing that the parents of these infants should know is that Palivizumab can not help the infected child to improve their RSV- related symptoms. Palivizumab can only help in preventing this disease.
Conclusion:
“Prevention is better than cure.” It holds best for RSV infection. The serious side effects of this infection can be prevented by taking preventive measures as recommended by the CDC and the American academy of pediatrics (AAP). Their guidelines include good hand cleanliness among caregivers, reducing exposure to cigarette smoke, and avoiding crowded places, including daycare, when possible.
