What is RSV?
RSV is respiratory virus that affects the lungs and breathing passages. Healthy people usually experience mild, cold-like symptoms and recover in a week or two, However, RSV can be severe, especially in infants and older adults. RSV is the #1 cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants younger than 1 years old in the U.S.
Symptoms of RSV:
- Runny nose.
- Decreased appetite.
- Coughing, sneezing and fever.
- Wheezing.
- In infants – irritability, breathing difficulties and decreased activity.
Causes of RSV:
RSV is caused by infection of a respiratory virus. Those infected with RSV are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days, which may stretch to weeks for those with weakened immune systems. RSV is spread by:
- Coughing or sneezing.
- Direct contact of infectious secretions by a person with RSV.
- Indirect contact of the virus on an environmental surface, such as a doorknob.
Information provided by:https://www.cdc.gov