Bay Area Children May Be At Risk Of RSV This Winter

This article is not medical advice.

You know you’ve got a cold when the sneezing and sniffling begin, and all you feel like doing is sleeping. During the winter, head colds are common, and the symptoms are often due to respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV.

In the spring of 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning because there was an increase in the number of children becoming ill due to RSV. During the winter of 2020, cases of the virus had declined in children, likely due to the adoption of public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. As a result of reduced exposure to the virus during the pandemic, older infants and toddlers in particular may be at greater risk of RSV-related illnesses, according to the CDC.

As we head into winter, doctors in the Bay Area and across California are concerned that cases of RSV may spike again, posing a potentially serious risk for young children and people who have compromised immune systems. The CDC reported the virus spiking multiple times in the Bay Area throughout 2021.

To stay healthy this winter, here’s what Bay Area residents need to know about RSV and the precautions you can take to avoid becoming ill from the respiratory virus.

What Is RSV?

RSV is a respiratory virus that people spread when they sneeze or cough. According to the CDC, it usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Because RSV affects the respiratory system, most of the symptoms are related to breathing. Mild symptoms include runny noses and minor coughing. In more severe cases, those with RSV may experience wheezing and trouble breathing.

What Are RSV Symptoms?

Most commonly, RSV causes the common cold. The severity of its symptoms depends on age and a person’s health. In most cases the symptoms are mild.

Mild RSV symptoms in babies and young children include:

• Coughing.
• Sneezing.
• Fever.
• Stuffy nose.
• Eating less.
• Fussy or irritable behavior.

Mild RSV symptoms in older children and adults include:

• Coughing.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Sore throat.
• Feeling tired.
• A stuffy nose or sneezing.

Is RSV Contagious?

Because the virus is spread through respiratory droplets when people sneeze, cough, talk, sing or shout, RSV is very contagious. While the droplets may be too small to see, they can still carry the virus. When you breathe air containing the droplets, you can catch the virus.

Is RSV Dangerous?

In most cases, RSV is not serious. When older children and adults catch the virus, they may not need to see a health care provider.

While most people will only experience mild symptoms, there are those who are more at risk for RSV, according to the CDC. They include:

• Premature infants.
• Babies less than 6 months old.
• Adults older than 65.
• Anyone who is immunocompromised or who has a weakened immune system.
• Anyone with heart or lung problems, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or congenital heart disease.

For those at high risk, RSV is dangerous because it can affect the lungs and, when it does, it can lead to pneumonia, an infection of the lungs that is caused by a virus or bacteria, and bronchiolitis, which according to Medline, is a swelling and mucus buildup in the smallest air passages in the lungs, usually due to a virus.

RSV bronchiolitis is particularly dangerous for young babies. According to the CDC, if your baby has RSV, you will want to monitor them closely for any breathing problems.

If you have a baby with severe RSV, you will also want to monitor if they:

• Stop eating.
• Stop breathing for brief periods.
• Sleep all the time.
• Become too tired to breathe.
• Breathe too fast to nurse or take a bottle.
• Become dehydrated (have fewer wet diapers).
• Appear pale or blue, especially around the lips.

If you are unsure whether your child has RSV or if their symptoms warrant medical attention, you should contact your child’s pediatrician for assistance with a diagnosis. (If you have a medical emergency, call 911.)

How Do I Know If It’s RSV?

A nasal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test can be used to detect the virus. Babies who potentially have the virus should see a health care provider. Very young babies may need to be kept under observation in the hospital for a day or two.

Toddlers, older children and adults who have RSV typically can recover at home unless worrisome symptoms arise, including:

• Difficulty breathing.
• Trouble eating or drinking.
• A cough that makes it hard to sleep.
• Wheezing or noisy breathing, especially if you have asthma.
• A fever that lasts more than four days or a fever that comes and goes.

How Long Does RSV Last?

In most mild cases, RSV lasts about three to five days. The body’s immune system fights the virus until it clears. For those with more severe cases, developing pneumonia, bronchiolitis or wheezing, their RSV symptoms may persist longer — up to a month or more. A study found that babies who develop RSV bronchiolitis can have symptoms on and off for months, and in some cases even years after becoming ill with the virus.

Home Medical Treatment For RSV

For children or adults with minor cases of RSV — and who do not require hospitalization — there are some things that can be done to support them as they fight the virus at home, including:

• Making sure they drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
• Using steam to help clear a stuffy nose.
• Older children and adults can drink hot tea or hot water with lemon to soothe a sore throat.
• Taking honey as a natural cough suppressant. (Honey should not be given to children younger than one year old.)
• Taking over-the-counter medicines including cold medications and acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, to help with any discomfort.

Medical Treatment For RSV

When medical care is required for RSV, the main goal is to help a person’s immune system as they fight the virus. Babies with RSV are usually kept in the hospital so they can be monitored closely and, when required, quickly receive treatments.

Medical treatments may include:

• Oxygen by mask or nasal cannula.
• Bronchodilators to open airways, such as albuterol.
• Fluids to help with dehydration.
• Steroids to reduce swelling inside the lungs.
• Intubation to help with breathing.

When Should Someone With RSV Go To The Hospital?

In some people, RSV can start off mild and become a problem, requiring medical care. It is generally recommended that someone should go to the hospital immediately if they encounter the following symptoms:

• Unable to eat or talk normally.
• Have asthma and an inhaler isn’t providing relief.
• Seem too tired to breathe or cough.
• Are dehydrated and aren’t able to urinate.
• Don’t want to wake up.
• Have a high fever or a fever and chest pain.

How Do I Protect My Family From RSV?

While there is no vaccine against RSV, practicing good hand-washing, social distancing, wearing a mask and avoiding crowded places when RSV is a risk are good strategies to protect against RSV.

How Can GoodRx Help?

If you need to speak with a doctor quickly or prefer to connect remotely with a medical professional, GoodRx Care can help. GoodRx Care is affordable and available nationwide with licensed medical providers who can provide help diagnosing an illness or refilling a prescription.

If you or your child require a prescription, you can find the most affordable prescription in your area with the GoodRx app. The app makes it easy to compare prices at nearby pharmacies and get free coupons — no printing required.

If your provider prescribes you any medications, the easy-to-use (and free!) GoodRx app can help you find the most affordable price in your area for your prescription drugs. Visit GoodRx to learn more. When you pick up your prescription, all you need to do is show your coupon to the pharmacist, who will enter the coupon code for your discount. Learn more about how you can save money on prescriptions and get the health care you need at GoodRx.

Download the GoodRx app or use the drug search tool on GoodRx.com to find the lowest price on your prescriptions.

Download the GoodRx app or use the drug search tool on GoodRx.com to find the lowest price on your prescriptions.