How can you treat RSV at home for both children and adults. What are the most effective natural remedies for managing RSV symptoms. When should you seek medical attention for RSV symptoms.

Understanding RSV: Prevalence and Transmission

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious virus that typically peaks during winter months. Its prevalence is remarkable, with nearly everyone contracting it by their second birthday. Interestingly, multiple infections throughout one’s lifetime are common.

Studies indicate that children have a 10-20% chance of contracting RSV annually, with slightly lower rates in adults. The virus’s ability to reinfect individuals, even within the same season, is noteworthy. However, subsequent infections often present milder symptoms.

Who is at High Risk for RSV Complications?

• Infants and young children
• Older adults
• Individuals with chronic medical conditions
• Immunocompromised persons

For most people not in high-risk groups, RSV typically manifests as a common cold, with symptoms resolving independently within one to two weeks.

Recognizing RSV Symptoms in Children and Adults

RSV symptoms can vary between children and adults, but there are common signs to watch for:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Persistent cough
• Headache
• Low-grade fever
• Sore throat

In infants, RSV can cause additional concerns. Can RSV affect a baby’s appetite? Indeed, babies with RSV may experience a decreased appetite due to nasal congestion, making feeding challenging.

Home Treatment Strategies for Mild RSV Cases

For individuals not at high risk, mild RSV infections can often be managed at home through supportive care. Dr. David Banach, associate professor of medicine and head of infection prevention at UConn Health, emphasizes that treatment should be tailored to individual symptoms.

Key Elements of RSV Home Care

1. Hydration: Ensuring adequate fluid intake is crucial to prevent dehydration.
2. Rest: Allowing the body time to recover is essential.
3. Fever and pain management: Acetaminophen can help reduce fever and alleviate pain.

Is it appropriate to use antibiotics for RSV? Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook University, clarifies that antibiotics are not prescribed for RSV as it is a viral illness, not a bacterial infection.

Over-the-Counter Medications: Safety and Efficacy

While over-the-counter medications can provide relief, it’s crucial to use them appropriately, especially for children.

Important Considerations for Pediatric RSV Treatment

• Avoid aspirin in children under 19 due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.
• The FDA advises against OTC cough and cold medicines for children under 2.
• Always consult a healthcare provider before administering OTC medications to children.

Are acetaminophen and ibuprofen safe for children with RSV? Yes, when used according to label instructions, these medications are generally safe for managing fever and pain in children with RSV.

Natural Remedies to Alleviate RSV Symptoms

Several non-medication remedies can provide relief for mild RSV symptoms:

Honey: Nature’s Cough Suppressant

How can honey help with RSV symptoms? Honey can soothe a sore throat and help suppress coughs. Adults can add it to tea, while children over one year old can have it in juice. It’s crucial to note that honey should never be given to infants under 12 months due to the risk of infant botulism.

Humidity: A Breath of Fresh Air

Vaporizers and humidifiers can increase air moisture, helping to ease breathing difficulties and loosen secretions. Similarly, steam from baths or showers can help clear congestion.

Nasal Care: Clearing the Airways

Saline nose drops or sprays can keep nasal passages moist and relieve stuffiness. For infants, nasal suctioning with a bulb syringe can be particularly effective.

Breathing Exercises: Natural Lung Clearance

Deep breathing exercises can help adults and older children clear sticky secretions from their lungs, promoting easier breathing.

Is nebulizer treatment recommended for RSV? Dr. Nachman doesn’t typically recommend nebulizer treatments for RSV, as they don’t appear to accelerate recovery and can be challenging to use effectively.

When to Seek Medical Attention for RSV

While most RSV cases can be managed at home, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention:

• Difficulty breathing
• High fever
• Bluish skin tone, especially around lips and nail beds

For infants, Dr. Nachman emphasizes the importance of monitoring breathing patterns closely.

Prevention Strategies: Minimizing RSV Spread

Given RSV’s high contagiousness, prevention is crucial. Key strategies include:

• Regular handwashing
• Avoiding close contact with infected individuals
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Staying home when sick

How effective is RSV vaccination? While an RSV vaccine is now available for older adults and pregnant women, its efficacy in reducing severe RSV cases is still being studied. Consult with a healthcare provider to determine if vaccination is appropriate for you or your loved ones.

Long-Term Effects and Recovery from RSV

For most individuals, RSV resolves without long-term consequences. However, in some cases, particularly among high-risk groups, RSV can lead to more serious conditions:

• Bronchiolitis
• Pneumonia
• Exacerbation of existing respiratory conditions

Does RSV increase the risk of developing asthma later in life? Some studies suggest a link between severe RSV infections in infancy and an increased risk of asthma or recurrent wheezing later in childhood. However, more research is needed to fully understand this relationship.

Recovery time from RSV can vary, but most people start feeling better within a week or two. Ensuring proper rest, hydration, and symptom management can help support a smoother recovery process.

Supporting Immune Function During RSV Recovery

While recovering from RSV, supporting overall immune function can be beneficial. Consider incorporating these strategies:

• Consuming a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables
• Getting adequate sleep
• Managing stress through relaxation techniques
• Staying physically active as symptoms allow

Can vitamin supplements help with RSV recovery? While a balanced diet is usually sufficient, individuals with nutritional deficiencies may benefit from supplements. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.

RSV in Different Age Groups: Tailoring Care Approaches

RSV affects different age groups in varying ways, necessitating tailored care approaches:

Infants and Young Children

For this vulnerable group, close monitoring is essential. Parents should watch for:

• Changes in breathing patterns
• Decreased wet diapers
• Lethargy or decreased responsiveness

How can parents help infants with RSV breathe easier? Gentle nasal suctioning before feedings and sleep can help clear airways and improve comfort.

School-Age Children

For older children, focus on:

• Encouraging rest and hydration
• Managing fever and discomfort with appropriate medications
• Promoting good hygiene to prevent spread to classmates

Adults

Adult care often involves:

• Symptom management with OTC medications
• Adequate rest and hydration
• Monitoring for worsening symptoms, especially in those with underlying health conditions

Should adults with RSV avoid physical activity? While rest is important, light activity as tolerated can help maintain overall health. Listen to your body and avoid strenuous exercise until symptoms improve.

The Role of Nutrition in RSV Recovery

Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in supporting the immune system during RSV recovery. Consider focusing on:

• Foods rich in vitamin C (citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens)
• Zinc-containing foods (lean meats, nuts, seeds)
• Protein-rich options to support tissue repair
• Easily digestible foods for those with decreased appetite

Are there specific foods that can help fight RSV? While no food can cure RSV, a balanced diet rich in nutrients can support overall immune function. Foods with anti-inflammatory properties, such as fatty fish, turmeric, and ginger, may help alleviate some symptoms.

Hydration Strategies for RSV Patients

Maintaining proper hydration is crucial during RSV infection. Consider these approaches:

• Offer small, frequent sips of water or clear fluids
• Incorporate hydrating foods like soups, fruits, and popsicles
• For infants, continue breastfeeding or formula feeding as tolerated
• Use oral rehydration solutions if recommended by a healthcare provider

How can you encourage fluid intake in a child with RSV? Make hydration fun by offering colorful cups, using straws, or making homemade popsicles with clear fluids.

Environmental Considerations for RSV Management

Creating a supportive environment can aid in RSV recovery. Consider these factors:

Air Quality

• Use air purifiers to reduce airborne irritants
• Maintain optimal humidity levels (30-50%)
• Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke or other respiratory irritants

Temperature Control

Maintain a comfortable room temperature to support rest and recovery. Avoid extreme temperature changes, which can exacerbate respiratory symptoms.

Sleep Environment

Ensure a quiet, dark sleeping area to promote quality rest. For infants and young children, consider elevating the head of the bed slightly to ease breathing during sleep.

Can essential oils help create a soothing environment for RSV patients? While some find aromatherapy relaxing, it’s important to use caution with essential oils, especially around young children and those with respiratory sensitivities. Always consult a healthcare provider before using essential oils for therapeutic purposes.

The Impact of RSV on Daily Life and Routines

RSV can significantly disrupt daily routines, particularly for families with young children. Consider these strategies for managing daily life during an RSV infection:

Work and School Considerations

• Communicate with employers or schools about the need for time off
• Explore remote work or learning options if available
• Plan for childcare arrangements if needed

Household Management

Maintaining a household while managing RSV can be challenging. Focus on essential tasks and consider asking for help from family or friends for tasks like grocery shopping or meal preparation.

Sibling Care

When one child has RSV, it’s important to balance care while minimizing spread to siblings. Implement good hygiene practices and consider separating sleeping areas if possible.

How long should a child with RSV stay home from school or daycare? Generally, children should stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without medication and symptoms are improving. However, always follow the guidance of your healthcare provider and school or daycare policies.

Emotional and Psychological Aspects of RSV Care

Caring for someone with RSV, especially a child, can be emotionally taxing. Consider these strategies for maintaining emotional well-being:

• Practice self-care and seek support from family and friends
• Maintain open communication with healthcare providers to address concerns
• Use relaxation techniques to manage stress
• Stay informed about RSV, but avoid excessive worry by focusing on actionable steps

How can parents manage anxiety about their child’s RSV symptoms? It’s normal to feel anxious, but focus on following your healthcare provider’s guidance, monitoring symptoms objectively, and remembering that most RSV cases resolve without complications.

Supporting Children’s Emotional Needs During Illness

For children old enough to understand, explain RSV in age-appropriate terms. Offer comfort, maintain routines where possible, and provide distractions like quiet activities or favorite toys.

Future Directions in RSV Management and Research

As our understanding of RSV evolves, new approaches to prevention and treatment are emerging:

Vaccine Development

Ongoing research is focused on developing effective RSV vaccines for various age groups, including infants and young children.

Antiviral Therapies

Scientists are exploring new antiviral treatments that may help shorten the duration and severity of RSV infections.

Long-Term Impact Studies

Research continues to investigate the potential long-term effects of RSV infections, particularly in relation to respiratory health later in life.

What promising developments are on the horizon for RSV treatment? While specific outcomes are yet to be determined, areas of active research include monoclonal antibody treatments, novel antiviral drugs, and advanced vaccine technologies targeting multiple strains of RSV.

As we continue to learn more about RSV and develop new strategies for its management, it’s crucial to stay informed and work closely with healthcare providers to ensure the best possible care for yourself and your loved ones.

How to Treat RSV at Home for Children and Adults

The super contagious virus known as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) usually begins to spread in fall and reaches peak levels in the winter. Nearly everyone gets it by the time they reach their second birthday and many people are infected more than once — maybe even several times — throughout their lifetime.

Studies have shown that children have a 10 to 20 percent chance of getting sick with RSV each year, with the rates in adults slightly lower. It’s even possible to get RSV multiple times within one season (though symptoms tend to be milder after the first bout), according to Mayo Clinic.

While RSV can cause severe and even deadly complications, particularly in high-risk groups (babies, older adults, and individuals who have chronic medical conditions or are immunocompromised), the virus is not typically a serious threat to most other people.

In low-risk groups RSV usually causes nothing more than cold-like symptoms — runny or stuffy nose, coughing, headache, low-grade fever, a sore throat — that go away on their own in a week or two. Babies with RSV may lose their appetite because they are so congested.

How to Treat RSV at Home

If you or your child are not at high risk from RSV, you can usually ride out a mild infection at home with so-called supportive care — over-the-counter medications and home remedies aimed at managing symptoms.

“The type of supportive care that’s recommended can depend on individual symptoms,” says David Banach, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine and head of infection prevention at UConn Health in Farmington, Connecticut. For example, there are over-the-counter drugs that can help with nasal congestion, alleviate coughing, or reduce pain or fever, he explains.

In most cases, there are three main things that can help someone with RSV feel better, says Sharon Nachman, MD, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases and professor of pediatrics at Stony Brook University’s Renaissance School of Medicine in Stony Brook, New York. They are:

• Lots of fluids (it’s especially important to prevent dehydration)
• Rest
• Tylenol (acetaminophen) to reduce fever and pain

What about antibiotics? “Antibiotics aren’t prescribed for RSV because it’s a viral illness, not a bacterial infection,” says Dr. Nachman.

In general, recommendations about RSV home treatments are the same for adults and older children, says Nachman. One important warning is that children under age 19 should never be given aspirin because of the risk of a life-threatening metabolic condition called Reye’s syndrome, according to Stanford Medicine.

Although children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen is safe (follow the directions on the label), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend over-the-counter medicines to treat cough and cold symptoms in kids under age 2 because of potentially serious side effects.

If you aren’t sure about which over-the-counter medications are safe for children, check with their healthcare provider.

Natural Remedies for RSV

There are a number of nonmedication at-home remedies that can help a person with mild RSV feel better, says Nachman. These include:

• Honey Nachman typically recommends honey to soothe a sore throat or help with a cough. “Adults can put it in tea, and children, provided they are over age 1, can have a scoop in their juice. However, don’t give honey to an infant or baby less than 12 months old,” she says. A bacteria called Clostridium botulinum can be present in honey and cause infant botulism in babies under 1 year old, according to KidsHealth.
• Vaporizers and Humidifiers “I recommend these because they do get a lot of water into the air. For kids and adults who are ‘breathing water off’ because they are breathing fast, that will help their secretions be a bit wetter,” says Nachman.
• Baths or Showers The steamy air produced by baths and showers can help clear congestion, says Nachman.
• Saline Nose Drops or Sprays These can help keep nasal passages moist and help with stuffiness, according to the FDA.
• Nasal Suctioning With a Bulb Syringe Used with or without saline nose drops, these devices can help relieve stuffiness and are good for babies.
• Deep Breathing “For adults or children who are old enough, they can take deep breaths and blow them out. That makes them cough and get rid of the thick, sticky secretions in their lungs,” says Nachman.

Nachman doesn’t recommend nebulizer treatments for RSV. “They don’t seem to make you get better faster and they can be difficult to use,” she says.

When a Baby or Adult With RSV Needs to Go to the Hospital

Anyone with RSV who has difficulty breathing or a high fever, or develops a blue tone to their skin (especially the lips and the nail beds), will require immediate medical attention, according to Mayo Clinic.

“Watch how your baby breathes,” says Nachman. “If they are having trouble, they may need to be tested and go on oxygen.” This is true for older children and adults as well: If they are working hard to breathe, they may need supplemental oxygen, says Nachman.

It’s estimated that over 100,000 and possibly more than 200,000 people (mostly babies and older adults) are hospitalized in the U. S. each year because of RSV, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), often for severe infections such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs) or bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs).

As many as 10,000 adults 65 and over and 300 children younger than 5 die from RSV each year, the CDC estimates.

Adults and babies hospitalized with RSV may receive:

• Intravenous (IV) fluids
• Humidified oxygen
• Mechanical ventilation (from a so-called breathing machine)

For immunocompromised patients, doctors might opt to use the antiviral medication ribavirin or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

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Treatment for RSV at Home – Cleveland Clinic

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is peaking sooner than normal, causing concern among doctors, older adults and parents of children who’ve come into contact with the respiratory virus. While anyone can get RSV, and it typically goes away on its own in under two weeks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), RSV results in about 58,000 hospitalizations and up to 300 deaths among children under 5 each year. For adults 65 and older, RSV causes 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths each year.

These numbers are especially concerning when recent surges in RSV have led to hospitals being at or above capacity across the nation with pediatric patients well before the normal winter peak.

As of mid-October, more than 7,300 tests came back positive for RSV, according to the CDC. That’s an 83% increase since late August — and some doctors are expecting that number to double in the coming weeks. Although the direct cause for the surge isn’t known, there may be several reasons at play.

COVID-19 has caused a disruption in flu seasons over the last couple of years, leading to fewer cases of the flu and RSV until recent months. One reason doctors think the new surge is happening is that we’ve been doing a great job of wearing masks, washing our hands and isolating when sick. Those practices may have decreased some of our immunity to other respiratory illnesses — especially younger children and infants, who would have otherwise had normal interactions with RSV.

“Our youngest age group has largely been sheltered from viruses due to the pandemic,” says family medicine physician Neha Vyas, MD. “Now, as they’re returning to daycare and other pre-pandemic activities, they are being exposed to these viruses and haven’t developed the immunity to them that normally occurs.”

As RSV cases continue to climb, it becomes increasingly important to keep your children home when they get sick and treat their symptoms as they happen to decrease the impact made on pediatric hospitals.

But how do you treat RSV at home, and when should you take your child to the hospital for urgent medical care? Dr. Vyas explains a few ways you can comfort your sick child and when it’s time to seek medical assistance.

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The best ways to comfort your child

Unlike the flu and COVID-19 (which have similar symptoms) there’s no RSV vaccine for children and there’s no antiviral treatment. In most cases, RSV will go away on its own after a few days and up to two weeks after infection.

Hearing that there’s no treatment for RSV is a total downer. No one likes to feel sick. But as a parent, you can minimize the spread of RSV by getting your child tested, keeping them home when they’re sick and treating their symptoms as they occur. Here are a few things you can do to provide your child some comfort while you’re both waiting for the virus to subside:

Let them rest

This is perhaps the easiest thing your child can do when they have RSV. Make them comfortable and allow them to rest when they’re feeling tired. If you can, minimize their need to move up and down stairs, participate in physical activities or do chores around the house. Their immune system is working on fighting off RSV, so the least they can do is give their body time to recover.

“Rest is important,” says Dr. Vyas. “Prioritizing sleep, especially when they are ill, will allow for a quicker recovery, so maintain a proper nap and bedtime schedule.”

Give them plenty of fluids

Kids with RSV will often lose their appetite and eat less or not feel like eating at all. When this happens, it’s so important to keep them hydrated, especially if your child is an infant. Pedialyte® and other fluids with electrolytes are good to have, but in most cases, water is enough.

“Electrolyte solutions like Pedialyte and Gatorade® will help replenish minerals lost in perspiration and illness,” says Dr. Vyas. “Soft foods, broth and soups are also nourishing.”

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Manage their fever

To reduce a fever, you’ll want to maintain a comfortable room temperature. Give your child blankets when they’re cold or have shivers and give them ice packs when they’re feeling hot. In most cases, a fever will break on its own, but you can also use over-the-counter fever reducers and pain medication to help manage the fever and reduce any body aches they’re having.

“It’s important to keep an eye on your child’s temperature,” advises Dr. Vyas. “Temperatures above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) are concerning and should be brought to the attention of your healthcare professional. ”

Why you should stay home if you have RSV-like symptoms

If you or your child has RSV, you could be contagious for up to three to eight days. Some infants and people with weakened immune systems can even spread the virus for up to four weeks even when they’re not showing symptoms. In the most serious cases, RSV can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis. That’s why it’s important that you wait to take your child back to school or daycare until their symptoms have fully subsided. And it’s also important that you stay home from work and avoid gathering in public, too.

“RSV can also occur in adults,” notes Dr. Vyas. “It usually looks like the common cold, so pay particular attention to worrisome signs like trouble breathing or dehydration.”

When to seek urgent medical care

What makes RSV so dangerous is that it has the ability to inflame and clog your child’s airways. The smaller or younger your child is, the more at-risk they are for having problems breathing. If your child is struggling to breathe or begins wheezing, you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider or pediatrician and have them seen right away.

“Pay attention to your child’s breathing,” stresses Dr. Vyas. “If they’re having to use their neck muscles or their chest muscles to take breaths, or they’re breathing fast, or if their lips seem to look blue, seek medical attention immediately.”

Respiratory diseases, treatment: respiratory syncytial virus

Respiratory diseases, treatment: respiratory syncytial virus

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8 (800) 707 71 81

About the disease
About treatment

Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RS-infection)

Frequent lower respiratory infections in children and adults may be the result of infection with the syncytial virus. Syncytial virus (RSV), for which there is no vaccine, commonly affects newborns and young children, causing respiratory failure. Peak incidence occurs in winter and early spring. Without timely treatment, the disease caused by the syncytial virus can develop into chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma.

Facts to know

• The source of infection is a sick person and a virus carrier
• Mechanism of infection – aerogenic
• Transmission route – airborne
• 1-2 days before the onset of the first symptoms, the patient becomes contagious and remains so for 3-8 days
• At a heating temperature of 55-60°C, the virus disappears within 5 minutes, when boiled instantly

• Immunity after MS infection is weak, not more than 1 year
• Freezing (minus 70°) virus active, but not re-freezing
• Before the age of 3, almost all children have already had a respiratory syncytial infection
• Average duration of illness 14 to 21 days
• 5-6 hours it can be present in viable condition on clothing, toys and other items

Symptoms of RS virus infection

• Headache
• Lethargy
• Mild intoxication
• Rhinitis
• Dry paroxysmal cough
• In some cases, short-lived fever

Cure

About the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus

Treatment of respiratory diseases consists in bed rest, eating food rich in vitamins, prescribing etiotropic and antibacterial therapy for severe and prolonged forms of bronchiolitis.

Prophylaxis

Non-specific prophylaxis is the timely isolation of the patient until his full recovery. During outbreaks of infection, special attention should be paid to sanitary and hygienic measures in children’s institutions, work groups and at home.

galavit in MS infection

Immunoprophylaxis plays an important role in preventing such diseases. An immunomodulator with anti-inflammatory properties Galavit is recommended for children and adults suffering from frequent respiratory diseases, especially during seasons of increased morbidity. Clinical trials have shown that taking the drug Galavit allows not only to avoid the occurrence of infection, but also to promote a speedy recovery.

Galavit restores the protective properties of the body at any stage of the disease, enhances the effect of antiviral drugs and at the same time has an anti-inflammatory effect. Galavit is a reliable means of preventing respiratory diseases.

How to use Galavit

For prevention:

in the interrelapse period to maintain clinical remission

– 100 mg / day

For treatment:

First 5 days

5 doses of 1 00 mg/day daily

Next 10 days

5 doses of 100 mg/day every other day

Next 15 days

5 doses of 100 mg/day every 2 days

Get a free

consultation with a specialist

on the use of Galavit for prevention

Benefits of using

Galavita in treatment

Reliable and proven

IN CLINICAL PRACTICE SINCE 1997

compatible with any type of therapy

Can be prescribed without immunogram

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symptoms and dangers for children

In the United States, an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among children was recorded. Andrey Pozdnyakov, an infectious disease doctor, chief physician of the clinical diagnostic laboratory of INVITRO-Siberia LLC, told Izvestia on Wednesday, February 8, about what kind of virus it is and why it threatens children, and whether it can spread in Russia.

According to him, this is a fairly long-known virus that causes severe illness mainly in children. Due to the anatomical features of the respiratory tract, it quickly descends and causes bronchitis with varying degrees of obstruction.

“Sometimes it is possible to develop bronchiolitis – inflammation of the small bronchi, which is characterized by very pronounced hypoxia. The risk group includes children, very elderly people, debilitated bedridden patients who have congestion in the lungs, as well as people with reduced immunity, ”Pozdnyakov specified.

He noted that adults carry respiratory syncytial virus easily, like a common respiratory infection. It is in children that the main percentage of severe forms of the disease, hospitalizations and complications is observed. Complications are associated with the fact that the bronchi, including small ones, are clogged with sputum. This leads to the development of respiratory failure of varying severity, after which hypoxia and the whole complex of severe oxygen starvation of the body occur.

“The main symptoms of the disease in children are fever (most often low) and rapid onset of frequent cough with sputum. Cough with RSV infection is not superficial, not “throat”, but bronchial, as the virus quickly descends and affects the bronchi. With massive damage to the bronchi – a manifestation of respiratory failure: shortness of breath, retraction of the intercostal spaces, sometimes cyanosis – blue skin, including at rest, without physical activity. With timely and proper treatment, the disease proceeds normally, ”said Pozdnyakov.

The infectious disease specialist also noted that it is important to determine the moment when the patient begins to need inpatient treatment. This happens when he needs oxygen support. For any signs of respiratory failure, no matter what degree, the patient must be hospitalized, especially if it is a child, the doctor emphasized.

“The outbreak in the US may be related to prolonged quarantine measures due to COVID-19. Children who stayed at home for a long time did not encounter many viruses and lost their immune response. Now for these children, RSV is new and causes a more severe form of the disease than three years ago,” he said.

As the specialist explained, RSV is an exclusively seasonal infection that occurs during the cold season. There is always a risk of an outbreak at this time, and in Russia this option is also not excluded. At the same time, although the virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, it is not as contagious as the flu, chickenpox or measles.

“The outbreak can be effectively suppressed by applying local quarantine measures by separating contacts. For example, if RSV outbreaks occur in a preschool institution, it will be sufficient to introduce limited quarantine in this group,” Pozdnyakov added.