RSV, Respiratory Syncytial Virus
What is "RSV" or "Respiratory Syncytial Virus"?
RSV is Respiratory Syncytial Virus, which is kind of a bad actor in certain settings. RSV is the most common cause of neonatal infections in the respiratory tract, and in small children it can be very dangerous. In others, it will be a problem, especially if you're immune suppressed. It is a virus that we have very little opportunity to treat with any antivirals. We just don't have them for RSV, and so we have to treat the patient symptomatically. Treating patients with RSV is difficult because we don't have a good treatment for it.
Who is most likely to contract RSV?
RSV is most likely to be contracted by small children and some adults who have underlying diseases that will make them immune suppressed.
What are the most common symptoms of RSV?
RSV is manifested by a cough, congestion, there can be some dehydration associated with it, mental confusion. Especially if it's really advanced, it can cause respiratory failure, and these patients need to be watched very, very closely.
How is RSV infection diagnosed?
RSV diagnosis is difficult, and at times, is a diagnosis of exclusion. However, in certain settings, it will be easily identified. In children, especially during fall, winter, and spring months, it is common. In fact, most adults, by the time they reach adulthood, have had an RSV infection that they've handled well. If there is an infection that occurs in summertime, it is probably not RSV. We don't have good blood tests for RSV infections, but it is something that if a really well-trained pediatrician or pediatric pulmonologist is able to identify, or see a patient, he'll be able to identify it quite readily.
How is RSV treated?
RSV treatment is almost always nothing more than symptomatic and fluid replacement. If the patient becomes really severely infected and develops respiratory failure, then they go into the hospital. They will be given respiratory treatments. They may even be incubated, placed on an incubator, if it's really severe. There are ways of making sure that they don't advance and develop severe problems like dehydration, with rest and with IV fluids. But mainly, it's a symptomatic approach.
How should I care for a child with RSV?
Children with RSV almost always get over it and they handle it fine. So nebulizing bronchodialaters might be necessary, but that's is rarely the case. Good hydration, watching out for the patients general symptoms, keeping fever down, watching out for the symptomatic issues is probably good enough. But if there is any concern that the patient is not doing well, they should be taken to the doctor.
How can I prevent RSV?
RSV is hard to prevent. It's very, very infectious. There have been attempts to use certain kinds of IV, like IgG, immune globulin, that sort of thing. But no really good innoculations, no really good immunizations have been made available at this point for RSV.
