What You Need to Know About RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection)

Understanding the Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

What is Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV?

Respiratory Syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) Virus or commonly known as RSV, is a respiratory virus that affects people of all ages, primarily infants and young children. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs). It can lead to severe complications, especially to vulnerable populations such as premature infants and older adults with weakened immune systems.

In this blog, we aim to provide you with the things you need to know about RSV infection, including its causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies.

What are the Causes of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection?

RSV is caused by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the  Paramyxoviridae family. Paramyxovirus, which includes the parainfluenza viruses and mumps virus; Pneumovirus, which includes respiratory syncytial virus; and Morbillivirus, which includes the measles virus.

Is RSV Contagious?

Yes, it is highly contagious and can spread easily.

How is RSV Transmitted?

1. Like Covid, RSV is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. These droplets can be inhaled by other people.

2. Direct contact to contaminated surfaces. Door handles, tables, countertops, toys, mobile phones, or surfaces that have been touched by a person infected with RSV.

3. RSV can also spread through direct contact with items that contain mucus from the nose or throat of an infected person like tissues or hand towels.

RSV can survive longer on hard surfaces than tissues or hands. Refrain from touching surfaces especially in public places/areas.

What are the Symptoms of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection?

Symptoms usually start 3 to 10 days after being exposed to or infected with RSV but it can vary depending on the age and overall health of an individual.

Infants and young children may experience the following:

• Mild cold-like illness
• Runny Nose
• Fever
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Mild sore throat
• Ear infection in some people
• Wheezing
• Decrease in appetite and activity in very your infants
• Irritability
• Apnea (pauses in breathing more than 10 seconds)

Who are at Risk?

• Premature infants
• Infants and children under 2 years of age as they are the most vulnerable.
• Children with Asthma and breathing problems
• High risk individuals, symptoms can progress to more severe respiratory complications, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Prevention and Care

According to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, scientists are still working on developing vaccines and antivirals. There is still no specific treatment, most RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two. However, there are ways to prevent the spread of RSV.

Here are some measures that can help reduce the transmission of RSV:

Hand Hygiene

• Frequent washing of hands with soap and for at least 20 seconds. If soap or water is unavailable, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good alternative.
• Keep your hands off your face. Refrain from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth if your hands are unwashed. Germs easily spread by just one touch.

Respiratory Etiquette

• Cover the mouth using a tissue or the shirt sleeve when sneezing or coughing. This can significantly reduce the spread of RSV through droplets.
• Throw your tissue properly afterwards.

Environmental Cleaning

• Clean surfaces - door handles, tables, countertops, light switches, and the likes, are contaminated easily especially when touched by an infected person. They must be cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of the virus.

Avoid Close Contact

• Be responsible and stay at home when you are sick. Refrain from going out when you feel sick to avoid spreading or getting the virus.
• Minimise close contact with individuals who have symptoms of respiratory illness to help prevent the transmission of RSV.
• High risk individuals, such as infants, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems must stay home.

Conclusion

Keeping good hygiene, maintaining clean environments, and being responsible to yourselves and to others can help prevent the spread of RSV. And by understanding the causes, symptoms and practicing preventive measures, we can help mitigate the risk of transmission.

Always remember to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider if you are concerned about your child’s risk for severe RSV.

References:

1. Health Direct. (n.d.) Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV). Retrieved from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv
2. NIH National Library of Medicine. (1996). Paramyxoviruses. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8461/
3. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html
4. American Lung Association. (2021). Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv
5. World Health Organization. (2020). Hand hygiene: Why, how & when? Retrieved from https://www.who.int/gpsc/cleanhandsprotection/en/
6. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353098
7. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2014). Respiratory Syncytial Virus. In: Kimberlin DW, Brady MT, Jackson MA, Long SS, eds. Red Book®: 2015 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2015:682-692.