What is required to maintain contact precautions and prevent the spread of RSV?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants under 1 year of age.

Bronchiolitis is inflammation of small air passages in the lungs and pneumonia is inflammation of the lung tissue itself. Almost all children will get RSV infection at least once by 2 years of age.

RSV infection may cause respiratory (lung) disease at any age and can be severe among the elderly and people of any age with heart, lung or immune system problems.

Infections may recur throughout life. In South Australia, infections are most common during winter and early spring.

How RSV infection is spread

RSV is spread when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes small droplets containing infectious agents into the air. The droplets in the air may be breathed in by those nearby. Infection may be spread by contact with hands, tissues and other articles soiled by infected nose and throat discharges.

The virus survives outside of the body for a few hours and is easily killed by soap and water or disinfectants.

Signs and symptoms of RSV infection

The first symptoms are usually:

  • fever
  • runny nose
  • cough
  • wheezing. 

Ear infections are common. Pneumonia and bronchiolitis often follow, especially in infants. Most children recover from the illness in 8 to 15 days, but some require hospitalisation, mostly in the very young age group (below 6 months of age).

Diagnosis of RSV infection

Diagnosis can be made by direct detection or isolation of the virus from respiratory secretions or by blood tests.

Incubation period

(time between becoming infected and developing symptoms)

The average incubation period is 5 days, with a range of 2 to 8 days.

Infectious period

(time during which an infected person can infect others)

The infectious period is unclear but is probably from before symptoms start until recovery. Most people recover from the infection within about 10 days.

Treatment for RSV infection

There is usually no need for treatment other than paracetamol for fever and maintaining adequate fluid intake. Aspirin should not be given to children under 12 years of age unless specifically recommended by a doctor. 

Very ill children and elderly people may require admission to hospital (less than 3% of children with RSV require this) and treatment is supportive. Because RSV is a virus, antibiotics do not help. There are no safe and effective antiviral drugs for routine use for RSV.

Prevention of RSV infection

  • Exclude people with RSV from childcare, preschool, school and work until they are well.
  • There is currently no vaccine available.
  • Frequent hand washing is the most effective means of preventing spread, as the virus is easily killed by soap and water.
  • Avoid sharing cups, glasses and eating utensils with people who have respiratory infections.
  • Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or your arm. Drop used tissues immediately into a rubbish bin, and then wash your hands.
  • Hand hygiene
  • Exclusion periods from childcare, preschool, school and work

What Is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common, and very contagious, virus that infects the respiratory tract of most children before their second birthday.

For most babies and young children, the infection causes nothing more than a cold. But for a small percentage, infection with RSV can lead to serious, sometimes life-threatening problems such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways of the lungs.

RSV Symptoms

RSV infection can cause cold-like symptoms, including a cough and runny nose, which usually last 1 to 2 weeks.

When to see a doctor: Call your baby's doctor if you notice any of the following RSV symptoms:

  • A high-pitched whistling or wheezing noise when they breathe
  • Being unusually upset or inactive
  • A cough with yellow, green, or gray mucus
  • Trouble breathing or pauses in their breaths
  • Refusing to breastfeed or bottle-feed
  • Signs of dehydration: lack of tears when crying, little or no urine in their diaper for 6 hours, and cool, dry skin

If your baby is very tired, breathes rapidly, has difficulty in breathing, or has a blue tint to their lips or fingernails, call 911 or go to the ER immediately.

RSV Causes and Risk Factors

Respiratory syncytial virus spreads through the air, like after a cough or a sneeze, and through direct contact like touching.

The chance of a severe infection is highest for:

  • Babies born prematurely
  • Children younger than 2 who were born with heart or lung disease
  • Infants and young children whose immune systems are weakened because of illness or medical treatment
  • Children under 8 to 10 weeks old

RSV Diagnosis

To diagnose RSV, your child’s doctor will probably look at their medical history and do a physical exam, including listening to their lungs.

Your doctor might do some tests if your child is very sick or in order to rule out other problems. Tests for RSV include:

  • Blood and urine tests to look for a bacterial infection and make sure your child isn’t dehydrated
  • Chest X-rays to look for any signs of pneumonia
  • Tests of material scraped out of your child’s nose or mouth

RSV Prevention

Steps you can take to try to avoid and prevent RSV include:

  • Avoid kissing your baby if you have cold symptoms.
  • Clean and disinfect hard surfaces.
  • Don’t let anyone smoke around your baby.
  • If possible, keep your baby away from anyone, including siblings, with cold symptoms.
  • Keep your baby away from crowds.
  • Ask people to wash their hands before they touch your baby.
  • Limit the time high-risk babies and young children stay in daycare, particularly from late fall to early spring, when RSV is most common.
  • Wash your hands often, especially after contact with anyone who has cold symptoms.

There’s no vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus. But a medication called palivizumab may prevent RSV infections and protect high-risk babies from serious complications of RSV infection. If your baby is at high risk, your doctor may give them a monthly shot of it during peak RSV season.

RSV Treatments

Although palivizumab may help prevent serious complications of RSV infection, doctors don’t use it to treat RSV. No medication treats the virus itself. So caring for a baby with RSV infection involves treating the symptoms and how it affects your baby’s respiratory system.

Most babies and young children can be cared for at home:

  • Remove sticky nasal fluids with a bulb syringe and saline drops.
  • Use a cool-mist vaporizer to keep the air moist and make breathing easier.
  • Give your little one fluids in small amounts throughout the day.
  • Use non-aspirin fever-reducers such as acetaminophen. Check the label and follow all directions carefully.

Babies with more serious cases may need to go to a hospital, where their treatment may include:

  • Oxygen
  • IV fluids
  • Medications or procedures (intubation)to open their airways

What precautions are needed for RSV?

Avoid close contact with sick people..
Wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds..
Avoid touching their face with unwashed hands..
Limit the time they spend in child-care centers or other potentially contagious settings, especially during fall, winter, and spring..

Is RSV airborne or droplet precautions?

Δ RSV may be transmitted by the droplet route but is primarily spread by direct contact with infectious respiratory secretions.

Is RSV contact or droplet isolation?

Δ RSV may be transmitted by the droplet route but is primarily spread by direct contact with infectious respiratory secretions.

What is RSV contact?

RSVP is an abbreviation of the French phrase 'Repondez, s'il vous plaît'. It translates to 'Respond, if you please' or, better still, 'Respond please. ' When you tear open the invitation and get reading, you need to pay close attention to the RSVP section.