Respiratory Syncytial virus, or RSV, is usually active during winter. It is best known to cause a serious lower respiratory tract infection – bronchiolitis in babies and young children. However, even though adults are not seriously affected by RSV. They can come down with the virus and may become sick.
If you are exposed to children suffering from RSV, here’s what you should know about the treatment and symptoms of adults with RSV.
RSV is a common cold virus. Like all common cold viruses, it gets into the body and invades the throat and nose. It leads to an upper respiratory tract infection. Most of the time, the immune system can fight off RSV before we go any further.
However, sometimes, RSV may spread to the lower respiratory tract infecting your lungs. It may lead to more serious illness. Older adults, young children, and those with weakened immune systems are likely to develop serious RSV infections.
Adults may get RSV, and you’ve probably had RSV several times in your daily life. As you get older and your immune system starts to develop more antibodies, you can fight off RSV more efficiently. So you may have developed only the mild cold with your RSV infections, or you may not have any symptoms.
The adults living with a child who tested positive for RSV are likely to test positive for RSV too. But these same studies showed that the adults had few or no symptoms. It is why most adults do not bother to get tested for RSV, even if they get exposed to the virus.
Many adults with RSV tend to recover quickly. However, some adults are at risk for serious RSV illness, including people who:
Have a weakened immune system
Have a chronic heart disease or heart failure
Have COPD, asthma, or any chronic lung disease
Are over 65 years old
The RSV virus may spread quite quickly, especially in households and schools. Adults at higher risk for serious RSV illness who spend time with young children need to be on alert for signs of RSV during the winter months.
Symptoms of RSV in adults are the same as any common cold that include:
Fatigue
Sore throat
Cough
Runny nose
Congestion
Most people develop symptoms within 4 to 6 days of exposure to someone with the virus. RSV symptoms tend to follow the same pattern as the common cold. It tends to get worse at first and peaks on illness in 4-6 days. However, they tend to disappear and fade away within 1 to 2 weeks.
Few people, especially young children, may get very sick from RSV. However, if you are sick, protect the people vulnerable to getting the disease from you, be it at home or work, until you feel better.
To lower the risk of getting RSV:
Disinfect and clean touched surfaces,
Avoid contact with sick people.
Cover your sneezes and coughs.
Wash your hands often with water and soap
These simple steps may keep you and your loved ones healthy during the RSV season.
RSV is a common virus that leads to cold symptoms during the winter months. Adults may get RSV, but they usually have no symptoms. However, older adults and those with weakened immune symptoms or chronic lung conditions may develop serious illnesses, including lung infections.
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Source - https://www.wiserxcard.com/what-is-rsv-and-how-can-adults-suffer-from-it/