RSV

Battling the Wintertime Bug

By Rachel Dickinson

When new parents take their baby to the pediatrician's office for the first couple of well-baby visits, the doctor might mention respiratory syncytial virus – better known as RSV. It's the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children around the world, and by age 3, virtually all children contract it. But unless you've known a family who's had an infant with a severe case of RSV, chances are you'll not give this virus much thought.

"We see many cases of RSV every year," says Dr. Rajaram Rao, a pediatrician in Ithaca, N.Y. The RSV season runs from November through April. Pediatricians like Dr. Rao see many, many cases of RSV during these months, and most of them just look like a common cold. But there are babies for whom RSV becomes a very serious illness.

RSV is the leading cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants. Bronchiolitis begins with mild symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection and progresses to include coughing, wheezing and an increased respiratory rate. Because infants have smaller peripheral airways than adults, it's important to manage these symptoms before they become serious or even life threatening.

Typically, babies will appear to have a common cold. Then, after two or three days, symptoms of bronchiolitis will appear, including a runny nose, wheezing and coughing, irritability and restlessness, a low grade fever (101 to 102 degrees), nasal flaring, retractions (also known as tugging, where the stomach and chest of the baby shows it's working hard to get enough breath) and sometimes apnea (where the baby actually stops breathing for a few moments while sleeping).

Doctors can perform a "rapid test" for RSV by taking a swab of the baby's nasal secretions. Test results, available within a couple of hours, can confirm the virus. There is no cure for RSV. If an infant has a mild case of RSV, treatment focuses on managing the symptoms. Patients may be given cough and cold medicines and bronchodilators, such as Albuterol, to help relieve chest congestion or wheezing. Symptoms should disappear within five to seven days.

Want to see more?

• The Facts About RSV: What Every Parent Should Know
• Are You Prepared for a Preemie? A Guide to Preterm Babies
• When to Call the Doctor
• Talk about it!