Respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV, is a common respiratory illness that affects most children before the age of 2. It occurs commonly in the winter and spring, affects the lungs and respiratory tract, and is generally a mild disease. Having the disease once doesn't incur immunity, but subsequent infections are usually milder. Twenty to 40 percent of infants develop complications such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis on their first exposure; complications are more common in premature infants and those with cystic fibrosis or other chronic disease.
Respiratory Symptoms
Respiratory problems are the primary symptoms of RSV and occur within 4 to 6 days of exposure, the Merck Manual states. Common respiratory symptoms in infants include stuffy or runny nose, dry cough, sneezing and wheezing. Many infants appear to have nothing more than a mild cold. Bronchiolitis, an infection of the small airways in the lungs, often occurs in the first infection, and can increase the chance of developing asthma later in life. Pneumonia can also complicate RSV. Most infants fully recover within 1 to 2 weeks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Non-respiratory Symptoms
Non-respiratory symptoms of RSV in infants include fever, usually occurring 1 to 3 days after the initial runny nose, sore throat and headache. Infants might not exhibit typical respiratory symptoms at all, but could experience lack of appetite, irritability and lethargy, the Mayo Clinic states.
Severe Respiratory Problems
Signs that RSV is turning into a more serious infection that needs immediate medical attention in infants include very rapid, shallow breathing, shortness of breath, a bluish tint to the skin (noticeable around the mouth) indicating a lack of oxygen, and a very high fever. Infants younger than 6 months may have episodes of apnea in which they stop breathing, Merck says. They might work hard at breathing, so that you can see retractions, a pulling in of the skin around the ribs with every breath. Wheezing can intensify, and the infant may appear very ill. Infants with severe symptoms need immediate medical attention; supplemental oxygen will be given, and mechanical ventilation may be necessary.
