What is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects the lungs and airways and causes respiratory illness. It is a very common cause of cold in both children and adults. Most children will have an RSV infection by the age of two. Children are more likely to catch it during the RSV season, typically from November to April, when the virus is most active. Although most children will have a mild infection and not require any medical attention, RSV can also cause bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the lower airways, in young infants and toddlers.
Signs and symptoms caused by respiratory syncytial virus
A baby or child with this infection may:
Because these are common symptoms, it is easy to mistake RSV for other respiratory viruses.
In most cases, you can take care of your child with RSV or other respiratory viruses at home as long as they are breathing comfortably, and they are drinking and peeing as usual. The infection usually lasts a few days and resolves without the need for specific treatment.
In healthy adults, RSV is usually not serious. But adults can pass the virus to children, and older adults are at risk for more severe disease with RSV.
Respiratory syncytial virus can be serious
Some babies and children can develop a severe form of RSV. This may be in the form of bronchiolitis or pneumonia (lung infection) For more information about bronchiolitis, please see www.aboutkidshealth.ca/bronchiolitis.
How does respiratory syncytial virus spread?
RSV is spread through droplets from a person infected with the virus that are expelled when the person talks, coughs or sneezes. These droplets can make contact with the eyes, nose and mouth of people nearby or they may land on surfaces around the infected person. RSV can live on countertops and other hard objects for more than six hours. It can live on clothes and hands for up to one hour. Contact spread can then occur when someone touches a surface that is contaminated by droplets that contain germs and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth.
RSV can also be spread by touching:
- mucus from the nose or mouth of a person who has the virus
- soiled tissues, surfaces, clothes and toys a person with the virus has touched
- the unwashed hands of a person with the virus
Treatment of respiratory syncytial virus
When a child is fighting RSV, treatment is mainly supportive to relieve the symptoms and maintain oxygen and hydration.
Treatment for fever
If your child has fever and is uncomfortable, you can give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen. For information on how to safely use acetaminophen or ibuprofen tablets by mouth for children please see this information sheet.
DO NOT give your child acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). For more information about how to care for a baby, toddler or child with a fever, visit www.aboutkidshealth.ca/fever.
Treatment for cough
For most children, the cough is just a symptom of the virus. The cough will get better as the virus runs its course. Over-the-counter and prescription cold medicines do not make the illness go away faster. Cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under six years of age. Most cold and flu medicines can cause unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, trouble falling asleep or rapid heart rate.
Sometimes a severe cough can be a sign of a complication, such as a chest infection or asthma. A doctor can listen to your child's chest to assess if your child is having a complication and give treatment for these conditions, if needed.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics have no effect on viruses, such as RSV, and would not routinely be used as they will not help your child get better faster.
Preventing respiratory syncytial virus
You can help stop the spread of RSV by:
- washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after touching your child. Ask others to do the same.
- coughing or sneezing into your sleeve instead of your hands and putting used tissue into the garbage right away.
- avoiding kissing or similar close contact with your child's face and hands when you are unwell.
- wearing a mask in indoor public settings.
- staying away from your hospitalized premature baby if you are sneezing, coughing or have a runny nose or a fever.
- keeping your baby away from crowds and anyone with sneezing, coughing, a runny nose or a fever, especially during respiratory virus season. Infections spread more easily when there are more people around.
- cleaning surfaces in your home that are touched often on a regular basis, more often during respiratory virus season.
Do not expose your child to cigarette smoke. Smoking has been associated with increased infection rates.
Getting RSV once does not prevent a future infection. The average person may have an RSV infection multiple times during their lifetime.
There is no vaccine available for RSV. In certain young children who are at very high risk of RSV, a medication to prevent acquiring RSV called palivizumab may be recommended by health-care providers. This medication may be given to babies born very prematurely, or who have a severe lung or heart condition.
Several new RSV vaccines were approved in Canada in April 2023. One is recommended for infants and one is recommended for adults over the age of 60. For many years, RSV vaccination had been limited to certain young children at very high risk of RSV, including premature infants and infants with cardiac or respiratory conditions. While the new RSV vaccines may not yet be covered free of charge by your provincial health plan, you can talk to your health-care provider about the benefits of the available RSV vaccines for your child or other family members.
You should seek medical attention if your child has trouble taking in enough fluids to avoid dehydration. The first sign of this is reduced urine output (peeing less than usual; diapers are less wet).
Go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911 if:
- your child is working very hard to breathe
Watch this video for more information on spotting signs of breathing trouble in your child.
Perform CPR and call 911 if:
- your child stops breathing
- your child becomes unresponsive
- your child’s skin turns blue (in people with lighter skin), pale or grey (in people with darker skin)
Your child may show physical changes when their condition is serious or when their condition gets worse. Parents and caregivers can learn how to spot these signs in order to seek help from a health-care provider.