RSV affects adultsand children, causing runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and fever.
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What Causes RSV?
It’s usually a mild and self-limiting disease (resolving without treatment).
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This differs from thecommon cold,which is mainly limited to the upper respiratory tract.
Symptoms are due to the body’s response to the virus in the form of lunginflammation.
Theincubation period(the time between exposure and symptoms) can take anywhere from two to eight days.
How Long Can RSV Live Outside the Body?
How Long Is RSV Contagious?
People with an RSV infection may be contagious a day or two before symptoms appear.
This is why RSV can rapidly spread through day care centers and preschools before the outbreak is contained.
Once they have the infection, a child can bring the virus home and transmit it to others.
Vaccines and medications are available for older adults and children who are at greater risk of severe illness.
All three are given as a single dose.
A one-time immunization is recommended for all adults over age 75.
The antibody is known as Beyfortus (nirsevimab).
It can prevent severe RSV complications in babies and toddlers when they acquire an RSV infection.
If their mother received an RSV vaccine while pregnant, the antibody isn’t needed.
These include cystic fibrosis, chronic lung disease from prematurity, or a weakened immune system.
RSV may be contagious one or two days beforesymptomsappear and continue to be contagious until symptoms resolve.
Infants and older adults are at high risk of severe complications like pneumonia.
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