Respiratory syncytial (pronounced “sin-SISH-ul”) virus, or RSV, is a potentially serious health concern for parents with young infants. If your child has RSV, they’ll most often experience mild cold symptoms like a stuffy nose or coughing.
However, children with vulnerable immune systems and babies with RSV can develop serious complications like a lung infection and difficulty breathing. It’s important to protect your little ones from the virus because it can be dangerous and spread quickly.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 2.1 million children under 5 years old receive outpatient care for this infection each year.
RSV is a fast-spreading, contagious virus that affects organs of the respiratory system in babies and infants. Most children under 2 years old get this virus at least once, often experiencing symptoms in the nose and lungs.
Cold symptoms aren’t a major concern for younger children with RSV. Nonetheless, the virus can potentially cause severe complications like pneumonia or bronchiolitis (swelling of the lung’s small airways).
While children can get RSV at any time of the year, infection rates increase over the fall and winter. RSV spreads in two main ways:
RSV symptoms can vary by factors like age and vulnerability, and usually clear up in one to two weeks.
Children between 1 and 3 years old or toddlers with RSV often experience cold-like effects. Common symptoms of RSV in this age group include:
Some infants and toddlers are more vulnerable to RSV due to factors such as premature birth, weakened immune systems, and heart problems. They may develop life-threatening RSV symptoms such as:
RSV can infect adults and children older than 5 years, too, but it often causes minimal signs and symptoms. Symptoms in children and adults include:
Most children start experiencing symptoms 2-8 days after exposure to RSV. Those with an RSV infection like bronchiolitis often recover in about a week. However, some symptoms, such as coughing, may last longer.
Contagious infections like RSV are preventable, primarily by practicing good and minimizing exposure. Here are some tips to protect yourself and your children from RSV:
Currently, the respiratory syncytial virus has no preventive vaccine. Nonetheless, to avoid developing severe RSV infections, vulnerable babies are usually given a drug called palivizumab once a month throughout the high-risk season. Consider asking your doctor if your baby is a candidate.
Adults also can get infected with the respiratory syncytial virus. Since they generally have a stronger immune system, their RSV symptoms are usually mild and similar to common colds. RSV symptoms in most adults go away quickly with self-care.
To avoid infecting other people, consider staying home for as long as practical once you have RSV. According to the CDC, RSV-infected individuals can remain contagious for up to 8 days. However, if you have a weakened immune system, your ability to infect other people may linger for up to four weeks even if you don’t experience any visible symptoms.
Like all viruses, respiratory syncytial virus does not respond to antibiotics that treat bacterial infections. If your child has bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics may be included in their treatment plan.
Younger children are more vulnerable to RSV than older children and adults. Fortunately, there are preventive and treatment options available all year round. If your baby has symptoms of an RSV infection, such as a cold and coughing, walk into any of our urgent care clinics in Irvine Woodbridge Walk-in Urgent Care, Fountain Valley Urgent Care, or Costa Mesa Urgent Care, CA, for immediate care. Our board-certified providers will provide your child with proper diagnosis and treatment, with the option of a flu shot if needed.
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
