What happens if rsv is left untreated

Cause Respiratory syncytial virus RSV is highly contagious, meaning it spreads easily from person to person. You can catch the virus by: Touching an object or surface contaminated with the virus and then touching your nose, eyes, or mouth without first washing your hands. The virus can survive for more than 6 hours on countertops and other hard surfaces, such as doorknobs, and for 30 minutes on hands, clothing, or tissue. Close contact. If an infected person coughs or sneezes near you, you could breathe in RSV that's in his or her saliva or mucus.

Symptoms When a respiratory syncytial virus RSV infection affects the nose and throat upper respiratory system , symptoms are usually mild and resemble those of the common cold. They include: Cough. Stuffy or runny nose. Mild sore throat. Fever, usually at the beginning of the illness. A high fever does not mean the illness is more severe. Babies may have additional symptoms, including: A decreased interest in their surroundings. Listlessness and sleepiness. Fretfulness irritability and not sleeping well.

Poor feeding. Apnea, where breathing stops for about 15 to 20 seconds. This usually occurs only in babies who were born prematurely and who also have a history of apnea.

Symptoms of these complications include: Difficulty breathing , which may include breathing more rapidly than normal. Coughing that is getting worse. A child may choke or vomit from intense coughing. Lethargy, increased tiredness, decreased interest in surroundings, or loss of interest in food.

What Happens In healthy children, respiratory syncytial virus RSV infections tend to be mild and resemble a cold. What Increases Your Risk Respiratory syncytial virus RSV infects almost all children by the age of 2, and reinfection throughout life is common.

When should you call your doctor? Call or other emergency services right away if: Your child has severe trouble breathing.

Your child's breathing has stopped. Begin rescue breathing. Call a doctor if your child: Breathes slightly faster than normal and seems to be getting worse. Most healthy children breathe less than 40 times a minute. Has cold symptoms that become severe. Has shallow coughing, which continues throughout the day and night. Has poor appetite or decreased activity level. Has any trouble breathing. Exams and Tests In otherwise healthy people, it is not usually necessary to distinguish respiratory syncytial virus RSV infection from a common cold.

These tests may include: A chest X-ray , which may show signs of pneumonia. Blood tests, such as a chemistry screening , a complete blood count , or arterial blood gases analysis.

Oximetry , to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood. Treatment Overview Respiratory syncytial virus RSV infections are usually mild and seem like a common cold. Watch for signs of dehydration. Signs of dehydration include being thirstier than usual and having darker urine than usual.

Make sure to replace fluids lost through rapid breathing, fever, diarrhea, or vomiting. Encourage more frequent breast- or bottle-feeding. Avoid giving your baby sports drinks, soft drinks, undiluted fruit juice, or water. These beverages may contain too much sugar, contain too few calories, or lack the proper balance of essential minerals electrolytes.

Make your child more comfortable by helping relieve his or her symptoms. Sometimes a child may get some relief from medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen , or from being kept in an upright position, which makes breathing easier.

You can suction your baby's nose if he or she can't breathe well enough to eat or sleep. Make sure you understand whether and when antibiotics are needed.

Antibiotics are not usually given for RSV infections. But if your child develops complications, such as an ear infection , your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. Do not stop giving antibiotic medicine when your child starts to feel better. The entire prescription must be taken to completely kill the bacteria. If you do not give your child all the medicine, the bacterial infection may return.

Take care of yourself. Caring for a sick child can be very tiring physically and emotionally. You can best help your child when you are rested and feeling well. Treatment for severe infection or complications Children who develop lower respiratory infections, especially bronchiolitis, may need medicines in addition to home treatment. Pregnant women should avoid contact with a child who is receiving ribavirin.

If your child is in the hospital for RSV, there are extra measures you can take to make his or her stay comfortable.

Prevention Respiratory syncytial virus RSV infection is easy to catch highly contagious. The following may help reduce your child's risk of respiratory problems: Wash your hands frequently, and teach your children to do the same. Also, make sure people who care for your child wash their hands and understand the importance of this habit in preventing the spread of infection. See that your child gets all of his or her vaccines.

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis DTaP , Haemophilus influenzae type b Hib , and pneumococcal vaccines are especially important. Breastfeed your baby for at least the first 6 months after birth, if possible. Breast milk seems to offer some protection against RSV infection, but more study is needed. Separate a child diagnosed with RSV from others in the home as much as possible. If you smoke, quit. If you cannot quit, do not smoke in the house or car. Secondhand smoke irritates the mucous membranes in your child's nose, sinuses, and lungs, making him or her more susceptible to infections.

Try to avoid: Sharing items such as cups, glasses, and utensils with others. People who have upper respiratory infections , such as colds. Child care centers, malls, movie theaters, and other places where many people are in an enclosed area. Visiting children who are in the hospital. Home Treatment When to use home treatment Most mild to moderate respiratory syncytial virus RSV infections in otherwise healthy people are like the common cold and can be treated at home. How to help your child with RSV infection Watch for signs of dehydration.

Antibiotics are not usually given for viral infections. But if your child develops complications of RSV, such as an ear infection , your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. Medications Most respiratory syncytial viral RSV infections do not require prescription medicines. But medicines may be recommended for certain people to help: Prevent RSV infection.

Treat RSV infection and its complications. Medicine choices A medicine may be given to infants and children at high risk for complications of RSV to prevent the infection or reduce its severity.

Medicines to help treat complications of RSV infection include: Corticosteroids. These medicines may be used if a child has an RSV infection and also has asthma or an allergic-type breathing problem.

But corticosteroids are typically not used. Antibiotics help the body destroy bacteria and may be used to help treat or prevent complications that can occur from RSV. They relax the muscle layer that surrounds the breathing tubes in the lung, allowing them to expand and move air more easily. This may help to reduce wheezing in some infants and toddlers. What to think about Ribavirin Virazole is an antiviral medicine that is very rarely used to treat people with RSV infections who have a high risk of developing complications.

People infected with RSV usually show symptoms within 4 to 6 days after getting infected. You can manage fever and pain with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Talk to your healthcare provider before giving your child nonprescription cold medicines, since some medicines contain ingredients that are not recommended for children. It is important for people with RSV infection to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration loss of body fluids.

Healthy infants and adults infected with RSV do not usually need to be hospitalized. But some people with RSV infection, especially infants younger than 6 months of age and older adults, may need to be hospitalized if they are having trouble breathing or are dehydrated.

In most of these cases, hospitalization only lasts a few days. Visits to a healthcare provider for an RSV infection are very common. In the most severe cases, a person may require additional oxygen or intubation have a breathing tube inserted through the mouth and down to the airway with mechanical ventilation a machine to help a person breathe. There is no specific treatment for RSV infection, though researchers are working to develop vaccines and antivirals medicines that fight viruses.

RSV can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can get infected if you get droplets from the cough or sneeze in your eyes, nose, or mouth, or if you touch a surface that has the virus on it, like a doorknob, and then touch your face before washing your hands.

Additionally, it can spread through direct contact with the virus, like kissing the face of a child with RSV. Infection is more common among children and infants. For many adults and healthy children, RSV infection causes symptoms similar to those of a cold. In infants, however, RSV can be more serious.

RSV is one of the most common viruses to cause lung and airway infections in infants and small children. Some individuals are at a higher risk of developing serious RSV infection. These individuals include:. Depending on your age, symptoms and type of RSV infection can vary. They typically surface within four to six days of infection. Older individuals have mild symptoms like congestion or fever. Children under the age of 1 exhibit the strongest symptoms.

Usually, these are only seen with more severe infections, such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia. If you see your child showing any of these symptoms, see your doctor. Testing for RSV is often not needed. The most commonly used is the rapid diagnostic test. This test looks for RSV antigen in nasal secretions. The results are usually available in less than an hour. If a rapid test is negative, your doctor may order a virus culture of the secretions.

They may also choose a more sensitive test that uses genetic technology to detect the virus in the blood. In most cases, especially in older children, symptoms of RSV are similar to the cold or flu. Many of these cases of RSV resolve without treatment. Getting sufficient rest and drinking plenty of fluids can help children recover.

Also, regular suctioning of mucus from the nose with a rubber bulb can relieve congestion in babies and toddlers. In younger children, especially under the age of 1, RSV can be more severe.