RSV: Prevention and treatment

October 19, 12:11 PMSt. Louis Family & Parenting ExaminerAngela Atkinson

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A chest x-ray may be used to diagnose RSV.
Image Credit: Adam Ciesielski

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a viral disease that affects the lungs. Symptoms are similar to those of cold symptoms, but in children (especially very young children and babies), it can cause more serious health issues. Two thirds of kids will have had RSV by their second birthday. While most aren't serious, about 125,000 are hospitalized each year. One to two percent of those hospitalized die.

Prevention of RSV

According to Louise Jadwisiak, a St. Louis Children's Hospital registered nurse, RSV is transmitted from person to person through "direct contact with contaminated secretions or indirectly from contaminated surfaces." And, she says, the virus can live outside the body for 4 to 6 days, making it extremely contagious.

When a family member has RSV, be sure to clean bedding and sick room surfaces with a disinfectant. Also use a disinfectant spray like Lysol, which has been proven to eliminate everything from influenza to foot fungus.

But perhaps most importantly, says Jadwisiak, is proper hand washing.

"Although contact precautions are an important factor in preventing the spread of this virus," she affirms, "good hand hygiene before and after patient contact remains the single most important means to preventing RSV transmission."

Treatment of RSV

While there are no medications available to treat RSV, you can treat the symptoms. The first step to take if you or your child begin to show symptoms of RSV is to visit your doctor. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the doctor may choose to take action to treat the symptoms, but in most cases, they can be treated at home.

• Avoid dehydration by drinking enough fluid. For babies, avoid sports drinks or soft drinks and increase breast or bottle feeding instead. WebMD even suggests that you don't give babies water or fruit juice during RSV.  "These beverages may contain too much sugar, contain too few calories, or lack the proper balance of essential minerals (electrolytes)," says WebMD's expert.
• Consider giving acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve fever and body aches caused by RSV.
• If you or your child have a lot of chest congestion, sit in your bathroom and run your shower on hot for fifteen to thirty minutes. The steam can help to break up congestion in your chest.
• Sleeping with your head elevated can feel more comfortable and makes breathing easier.
• Use saline nose drops to help clear stuffy noses. In infants, use a nasal aspirator to help clear the nose too.

For more info: Read more about family health from the St. Louis Family & Parenting Examiner.