What is RSV?
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a respiratory virus common in children under five years old. The virus can lead to upper and lower respiratory tract infections. In Thailand, RSV usually spreads during the rainy and winter seasons.
Symptoms
Once infected by RSV, patients usually show common cold-like symptoms, including fever, coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Fever can be high or low grade. However, if RSV infection progresses to lower respiratory tract infection, it can cause bronchitis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure. RSV symptoms to monitor include chronic coughing, excess mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest retraction. It is advised to seek medical attention once these symptoms develop.
Who is at risk of developing RSV infection?
Patients at risk of developing complications or pneumonia include preterm newborns, especially under 29-week gestation, patients with heart disease, immunodeficiency, lung disease, etc. These groups of patients tend to deteriorate rapidly and require ventilators. Therefore, they should be more careful of RSV infection and closely monitored and cared for.
How does RSV spread?
RSV can spread through contact with bodily fluids such as nasal discharge, saliva, and phlegm. You can be infected if your hands are exposed to the virus, whether by direct or indirect contact with infected bodily fluids, and you rub your eyes or pick your nose with the contaminated hands. RSV can live on surfaces for many hours, with over half an hour on unwashed hands. The incubation period takes around four to six days once you are infected with RSV.
Is there a vaccine for RSV?
Currently, there is no vaccine or medications specifically for RSV. The treatment for RSV is palliative care, including medication to reduce fever, suctioning, bronchodilators for patients with tracheobronchial stenosis, oxygenation, and IV fluids. The treatment duration for RSV varies from person to person, depending on severity. Mostly, it takes one to two weeks for the infection to go away.
How can we prevent RSV infection?
Since RSV infection can recur throughout life and there is no vaccine for it, prevention is crucial. To prevent RSV, wash your hands with soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand gel, wear a hygiene mask regularly, and often clean your children’s toys. If your family members are infected with RSV, keep them separate from others and avoid sharing personal items. Moreover, eating healthy diets and getting enough sleep can boost your immunity. Preschoolers and schoolers should take a leave until they are free of RSV infection to prevent transmission.
