Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a highly contagious airborne virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages, causing illnesses ranging from colds to pneumonia. It is most severe in children under 2 years old, premature infants, and those with weakened immune systems or lung diseases. Common symptoms include runny nose, cough, wheezing, and fever. There is no vaccine and treatment focuses on relieving symptoms for mild cases or providing oxygen and ventilation support for severe cases. Prevention strategies include handwashing, keeping at-risk children away from others with colds during RSV season, and monthly antibody injections for high-risk infants. RSV is most active during winter months in temperate

1. Respiratory Syncytial Virus

2. What is RSV?
It is a virus
Discovered in 1956
Infects the lungs and
breathing passages
Can cause a wide
spectrum of illnesses
Seasonal
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsRSV/

3. Highly contagious airborne virus
Annually 75,000-125,000 infants <1 yr require
hospitalization
~1%-2% die (750—1,500 children)
Contagious period during first 3-8 days of their illness
http://www.kuleuven.be/rega/mvr/research.html

4. Who gets it?
Anyone, but experience different levels of severity
Most at risk:
premature infants and all infants less than 1 year of age
children < 2 years old with cardiac disease or chronic
lung disease (for example, asthma, cystic fibrosis, etc.)
those of any age with a compromised immune system
those 65 years of age or older

5. Diseases
Bronchiolitis
Pneumonia
Colds
Spread through respiratory
secretions
- coughing, sneezing

6. Symptoms
Vary from person to person
Symptoms most severe in children under the age of two
4-6 after exposure
Runny nose
Decreased appetite
1-3 days later
Wheezing
Coughing
Fever
Very young infants, irritability, decreased activity, and
breathing difficulties may be the only symptoms of
infection.
www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/

7. Diagnostic Tests Testing for RSV, proper
testing of respiratory
secretions will:
 Positively identify RSV
 Rule out bacterial infection
Nasopharyngeal secretions
containing epithelial cells
are necessary for positive
diagnosis of severe RSV
infections
There are two strains, A and
B
 A causes severe cases
 B is asymptomatic and is
transmitted to most people
http://keiji-hagiwara.blogspot.com/2011/02/rapid-diagnostic-test-for-influenza.html

8. Treatment
Currently no RSV vaccine available
No treatment given in mild
disease
just antipyretics
Oxygen therapy, pulmonary inhalation therapy, airway suction,
and mechanical ventilation (severe disease)
Ribavirin aerosol (severe disease)
Sometimes used---IGIV (immune globulin intravenous) with
RSV-IGIV (e.g. Synagis) and Ribavirin (Virazole). [severe
disease]
Recovery 1-2 wks (non hospitalized & hospitalized)

9. Prevention
Frequent hand washing
At-Risk children can be given an injection of RSV antibodies monthly
during peak season.
Keep school-age children away from younger siblings (anyone under 2
years of age) if cold symptoms are present
Minimize number of visitors with the infant
Avoid any crowded places
Don’t take child to daycare during RSV season (if possible)
Obtain influenza vaccinations
 According to CDC, almost all children will have infection by 2nd
birthday; however, only 25%-40% will have symptoms of bronchiolitis
or pneumonia. Of those, 0.5%-2% require hospitalization.
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/new/GermCity/

10. Epidemiology
Transmission
 Transmitted via large, aerosolized respiratory particles or through
contact with nasal secretions. May even be transmitted indirectly
by contact with contaminated objects such as bathroom fixtures or
clothing. The most common sites of inoculation are the eyes and
nose
Prevalence
 Winter months
 Most frequently transmitted between family members and
hospitals
 The incubation period is three to five days for most patients
 Strain A more prevalent than Strain B
Global Distribution
 Warmer climates tend to have longer periods of outbreaks without
any peak times
 USA is generally November til May

11. References
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . (2010). Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. Accessed March 4, 2012 from
http://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html
 WebMD, LLC. (2012). Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. Accessed March 4, 2012 from http://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/respiratory-syncytial-
virus-rsv-infection-topic-overview