What causes rsv virus

These symptoms usually appear in stages instead of all at once. In very young infants, the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and trouble breathing. RSV can also cause more severe infections, especially in people at high risk. These infections include bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lung, and pneumonia , an infection of the lungs.

There is no specific treatment for RSV infection. Most infections go away on their own in a week or two. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help with the fever and pain. However, do not give aspirin to children.

And do not give cough medicine to children under four. It is also important to get enough fluids to prevent dehydration.

Some people with severe infection may need to be hospitalized. There, they might get oxygen , a breathing tube, or a ventilator. There are no vaccines for RSV. But you may able to reduce your risk of getting or spreading an RSV infection by:. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

Learn More Specifics. See, Play and Learn No links available. And there is a medicine that can help protect some babies at high risk for severe RSV disease. Healthcare providers usually give this medicine called palivizumab to premature infants and young children with certain heart and lung conditions as a series of monthly shots during RSV season.

Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Those at greatest risk for severe illness from RSV include Premature infants Very young infants, especially those 6 months and younger Children younger than 2 years old with chronic lung disease or congenital present from birth heart disease Children with weakened immune systems Children who have neuromuscular disorders, including those who have difficulty swallowing or clearing mucus secretions.

Most of the time RSV will cause a mild, cold-like illness, but it can also cause severe illness such as Bronchiolitis inflammation of the small airways in the lung Pneumonia infection of the lungs One to two out of every children younger than 6 months of age with RSV infection may need to be hospitalized.

Early Symptoms of RSV. In very young infants less than 6 months old , the only symptoms of RSV infection may be Irritability Decreased activity Decreased appetite Apnea pauses while breathing Fever may not always occur with RSV infections.

Symptoms of RSV infection usually include. These symptoms usually appear in stages and not all at once. In very young infants with RSV, the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties. Call your healthcare professional if you or your child is having difficulty breathing, not drinking enough fluids, or experiencing worsening symptoms.

There is no specific treatment for RSV infection, though researchers are working to develop vaccines and antivirals medicines that fight viruses. RSV can also cause more severe infections such as bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lung, and pneumonia, an infection of the lungs.

It is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age.