Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhen Do Adults Get RSV?ComplicationsHow Long Is It Contagious?TreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
When Do Adults Get RSV?
Complications
How Long Is It Contagious?
Treatment
Prevention
Respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) is an infection that can be passed from children to adults. While most healthy adults with RSV infection usually can be treated at home, older infected adults may be hospitalized if they require additional medical support for breathing, eating, and drinking. This is true for infants younger than 6 months old, as well.
Find out more about RSV in adults, including RSV complications, how long you are contagious with RSV, your treatment options, and how to protect high-risk, vulnerable adults from RSV.
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Adults can get RSV after being exposed to the virus causing the infection. Thisviral transmissionof RSV can occur when:
How to Tell If You Have RSV or a Cold
If you’re not surewhether your symptoms are RSVor a cold, testing can be done to confirm the virus responsible. However, your healthcare provider maymake a diagnosis of RSVbased on your symptoms and medical history alone. If testing does occur, it is typically done with a nasal swab to check for signs of viral activity.
At-Home Testing for RSV in AdultsIf you want to know if you have an RSV infection as an adult, you can get an at-home testing kit without a prescription.These tests check for RSV, flu, and COVID-19 using one sample from a nasal swab. After you collect your sample, you’ll send it to a designated lab for testing.
At-Home Testing for RSV in Adults
If you want to know if you have an RSV infection as an adult, you can get an at-home testing kit without a prescription.These tests check for RSV, flu, and COVID-19 using one sample from a nasal swab. After you collect your sample, you’ll send it to a designated lab for testing.
Why You Keep Getting Upper Respiratory Infections
Complications of RSV Symptoms in High-Risk Adults
Complications of severe RSV symptoms in high-risk adults includepneumonia. People in this group include:
Mild vs. Serious RSV Symptoms in AdultsTypically, people infected with RSV experience mild, cold-like symptoms, but this depends on their personal health history and current condition. Mild symptoms include runny nose, coughing, appetite loss, wheezing, sneezing, and fever.Serious symptoms lead some to wonder if RSV is deadly. There are cases in which RSV infection has progressed to serious lung infections and pneumonia, which can cause death.
Mild vs. Serious RSV Symptoms in Adults
Typically, people infected with RSV experience mild, cold-like symptoms, but this depends on their personal health history and current condition. Mild symptoms include runny nose, coughing, appetite loss, wheezing, sneezing, and fever.Serious symptoms lead some to wonder if RSV is deadly. There are cases in which RSV infection has progressed to serious lung infections and pneumonia, which can cause death.
Having an RSV infection can make existing chronic conditions worse, including the following:
Complications of severe RSV in high-risk adults can be dangerous and may require hospitalization.
Prevalence and RiskBear in mind that a mild infection for healthy adults can be potentially deadly for someone who is at high risk. Some 60,000–160,000 older adults in the United States are hospitalized each year due to RSV infection, and an estimated 6,000–10,000 of them die due to complications of RSV infection.
Prevalence and Risk
Bear in mind that a mild infection for healthy adults can be potentially deadly for someone who is at high risk. Some 60,000–160,000 older adults in the United States are hospitalized each year due to RSV infection, and an estimated 6,000–10,000 of them die due to complications of RSV infection.
Types of Pneumonia
How Long Are People Contagious With RSV?
When infected with RSV, you usually are contagious for three to eight days after symptoms start. However, you can be contagious up to a day or two before showing symptoms. High-risk and vulnerable people can remain contagious for up to four weeks after symptoms resolve.
How Long Are You Contagious With a Cold?
Treatment: RSV in Adults
Most cases of RSV in adults will resolve independently withouttreatmentwithin a week or two. Use over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications or fever reducers for RSV symptom management.Adults hospitalized with RSV infection will receive additional treatment.
Treatment for severe RSV in adults ensures the patient can breathe, drink, and eat adequately and safely. These treatments can include:
What to Pack for the Hospital
How to Protect Adults from RSV
There are other steps you can take to help protect high-risk adults in your family and community. These methods of protection are geared towardreducing the risk of spreading viral infection.
Ways to prevent the spread of RSV infection and help reduce risk to high-risk adults include:
The FDA has approved three RSV vaccines for preventing LRTD: Arexvy for those aged 50 and older, and Abrysvo and mResvia for those aged 60 and older. Abrysvo is also approved for individuals aged 18 to 59 at increased risk. Arexvy and Abrysvo may increase the risk of developingGuillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)after the vaccine has been administered.
The Hidden Risks of Antibacterial Soap
Summary
RSV infection can be passed to adults and cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe. RSV is contagious for several days after symptoms start, but in persons with reduced immune system functioning, the illness can still be spread for some weeks after symptoms resolve. Older adults and adults with compromised immune systems or coexisting health conditions like asthma or heart disease are considered vulnerable to infection and health complications from RSV.
You can test for RSV at home or at a healthcare provider’s office. Treatment beyond OTC therapies usually is not necessary, unless in severe cases in which hospitalization is required to help a person breathe, eat, or get fluids. Vaccination is recommended for all adults over age 75 and those over age 60 with certain risk factors.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms and care of RSV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How RSV spreads.American Lung Association.RSV symptoms and diagnosis.MedlinePlus.Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tests.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Older adults are at high risk for severe RSV illness.American Lung Association.RSV prevention and treatment.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for older adults.Food and Drug Administration.Commissioner O of the. Fda requires guillain-barré syndrome (Gbs) warning in the prescribing information for rsv vaccines abrysvo and arexvy: fda safety communication.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms and care of RSV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How RSV spreads.American Lung Association.RSV symptoms and diagnosis.MedlinePlus.Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tests.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Older adults are at high risk for severe RSV illness.American Lung Association.RSV prevention and treatment.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for older adults.Food and Drug Administration.Commissioner O of the. Fda requires guillain-barré syndrome (Gbs) warning in the prescribing information for rsv vaccines abrysvo and arexvy: fda safety communication.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms and care of RSV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How RSV spreads.American Lung Association.RSV symptoms and diagnosis.MedlinePlus.Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tests.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Older adults are at high risk for severe RSV illness.American Lung Association.RSV prevention and treatment.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for older adults.Food and Drug Administration.Commissioner O of the. Fda requires guillain-barré syndrome (Gbs) warning in the prescribing information for rsv vaccines abrysvo and arexvy: fda safety communication.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms and care of RSV.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How RSV spreads.
American Lung Association.RSV symptoms and diagnosis.
MedlinePlus.Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tests.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Older adults are at high risk for severe RSV illness.
American Lung Association.RSV prevention and treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for older adults.
Food and Drug Administration.Commissioner O of the. Fda requires guillain-barré syndrome (Gbs) warning in the prescribing information for rsv vaccines abrysvo and arexvy: fda safety communication.
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