I keep hearing about RSV. What exactly is it, what symptoms does it cause, and when can it become serious?

RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus, a very common virus that affects the respiratory system. For most healthy adults and older children, RSV causes a relatively mild respiratory illness. However, it can cause more serious illness in infants, young children, older adults, and people with certain medical conditions.

Common RSV symptoms include:

🤧 Runny nose
👃 Nasal congestion
😷 Cough
🍽️ Decreased appetite
🌡️ Sometimes fever
🫁 Wheezing

In infants, RSV may also appear as irritability, decreased activity, or difficulty feeding.

In some cases, RSV can progress to more serious respiratory illnesses such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia, particularly in young children.

The good news: We now have vaccines and preventive treatments that can help protect people at higher risk of severe RSV illness. Talk with your primary care provider to find out whether you or your family members may be eligible for RSV vaccination or other preventive options.