Frequently Asked Questions
This is the place for you to find answers to frequently asked questions about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
How can my baby get RSV?
RSV spreads easily through coughs, sneezes, close contact (like cuddles and kisses),1,2 and by touching one’s eyes, nose or mouth after touching contaminated surfaces, such as clothing, toys, or utensils.
Babies are often infected by older siblings, other children, or parents, who may carry the virus without showing symptoms.2,4,5 While RSV typically causes mild cold-like symptoms in adults, it can pose a higher risk of severe illness for babies and older adults.3 Good hygiene practices and preventive options can help protect infants.
Consult a paediatrician or overall healthcare provider for more information.
Can RSV cause serious illness?
RSV usually causes mild illness but, in some babies, it can become severe within just a few days,6 potentially leading to lung infections such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia.1 These infections can cause swelling in the airways, which may make it harder for babies to breathe.7
Signs that a baby is struggling to breathe can include wheezing, grunting, or breathing faster than usual.*7
* Please note: this is not a complete list, other symptoms can occur and infants may not experience all of these symptoms. Other infections may also cause similar symptoms. When you are concerned about your child's health, seek medical advice.
What age group does RSV disease affect?
RSV can affect people of all ages, but it can be particularly severe in babies and older adults.8
In developed countries, up to 1 in 10 children up to 2 years of age may develop RSV-associated lung infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.9
Testing and diagnosis
How can RSV be diagnosed?
RSV can be diagnosed by testing samples taken from the nose, and must be performed by a healthcare professional.
What is the timeline of a typical RSV infection?
When babies catch RSV, the virus will multiply in their body for around 3-5 days (we call this the incubation period).10 Following this, the symptoms will start to show; these usually get worse around Day 5, and then get better 7-10 days after infection.10
Most cases of RSV disease are usually mild and will resolve within this time.1 But for some babies, symptoms can progress from cold-like to severe within a few days of infection.6
Following an RSV infection, a cough may linger for around 4 weeks and around half of babies may have a wheeze after being ill with RSV.10
RSV-related management
Is there a treatment for RSV disease?
There are currently no specific treatments for RSV, and it is generally managed with supportive care and symptom relief.1,3,11 Most cases are mild,1 and resolve within a week or two.11 But in severe cases, treatment may include oxygen, feeding support, and hydration.1,12
What can I do to relieve my baby’s RSV-related symptoms?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state:11
Antiviral medication is not routinely recommended to fight infection. Most RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two. However, RSV can cause severe illness in some people.11
Take steps to relieve symptoms:11
- Manage fever and pain with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (never give aspirin to children)*
- Drink enough fluids. It is important for people with an RSV infection to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration (loss of body fluids)
- Talk to your paediatrician or overall healthcare provider before giving a child non-prescription cold medicine. Some medicines contain ingredients that are not good for children
Seek urgent medical attention if your child has difficulty breathing, not drinking enough fluids, or experiencing worsening symptoms.
* Read the package leaflet and follow the instructions provided before giving any medicine to a child. Speak to a pharmacist or your healthcare provider for more information on medicines.
Risk factors for RSV
Is there a higher risk of RSV if my baby is born early?
Infants born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) are at higher risk of serious RSV infection than those born at term (37 weeks of pregnancy or more).14
However, most hospitalizations including severe cases requiring ICU and mechanical ventilation for RSV occur in healthy full-term infants.13
Speak to your pediatrician or overall healthcare provider to learn more.
Footnotes & references
RSV, respiratory syncytial virus.
1. Piedimonte G and Perez MK. Pediatr Rev 2014; 35(12): 519–530.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). How RSV Spreads. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/causes/index.html. Accessed: September 2024.
3. UK Health Security Agency. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment, 2021. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/
respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-symptoms-transmission-prevention-treatment. Accessed:
September 2024.
4. Jacoby P et al. Epidemiol Infec 2017; 145(2): 266–271.
5. Yamin D et al. PNAS 2016; 113(46): 13239–13244.
6. Smyth RL and Breary SP. Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine. Bronchiolitis, Elsevier Ltd. 2006.
7. Meissner HC. N Engl J Med 2016; 374(1): 62–72.
8. Du Y et al. Int J Infect Dis 2022; 135: 70–76.
9. Langley JM et al. J Infect Dis 2022; 226: 374–385.
10. Eiland L. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2009; 14(2): 75–85.
11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RSV in Infants and Young Children.
Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/infants-young-children/index.html. Accessed: September 2024.
12. Barr R et al. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2019; 6: 1–9.
13. Arriola CS, et al. J Ped Inf Dis Soc. 2019; 9(5): 587-595. Supplemental Tables 4-6
14. Figueras-Aloy J, et al Defining the Risk and Associated Morbidity and Mortality of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Among Preterm Infants Without Chronic Lung Disease or Congenital Heart Disease. Infect Dis Ther. 2016 Dec;5(4):417-452. doi: 10.1007/s40121-016-0130-1. Epub 2016 Sep 14. PMID: 27628014; PMCID: PMC5125133.