• RSV
• Infections

Is RSV Contagious?

Medically reviewed and edited by Dr. Anthony Puopolo

What is RSV?

RSV is a respiratory illness that affects over two million children and adults in the United States each year.

This disease can be life-threatening if left untreated and is responsible for thousands of annual deaths among those who are infected.

However, RSV usually only causes a mild infection that rarely requires hospitalization or serious medical attention.

It’s typically treated with home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) medication.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at RSV, how it spreads, and what you can do to avoid contracting it.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV is a common respiratory infection caused by a virus. It can contribute to inflammation in the respiratory tract and, in rare cases, cause other medical issues like pneumonia.

This illness can affect anyone, but young children and older adults are more at risk of contracting RSV because their immune systems are not as strong.

How is RSV Spread?

Like many other respiratory viruses, RSV is often spread through face-to-face contact or touching an infected surface. Let’s take a look at these two causes.

Person-to-person transmission

RSV is most commonly spread through person-to-person contact. This can happen when water droplets drift between individuals and infect a healthy person.

These droplets normally spread through the air when people cough, sneeze, or even just talk.

Person-to-person RSV transmission is likely if you are in close proximity to an infected person, or you touch and kiss them while they are infected with RSV.

Touching an infected surface

RSV can also be spread by touching a surface covered in infectious droplets that have landed on it when someone coughed or sneezed close by.

These droplets can survive on surfaces for hours, even if it appears to be dry. If you touch this surface and then touch your nose or mouth, you might become infected with RSV, too.

Symptoms of RSV

The symptoms of RSV are similar to COVID-19 or common cold symptoms. These can range from mild to severe, but typically include:

• Runny nose

• Coughing

• Sneezing

• Fever

• Wheezing

• Decrease in appetite

• Breathing problems

• Pneumonia

• Rash

RSV symptoms may appear in stages as the illness develops and can also worsen if the infection becomes more severe.

RSV symptoms are usually less likely to become more severe in healthy children and adults who contract the disease.

However, infants and younger children who contract RSV may have the folowing symptoms:

• Become more irritable

• Show decreased activity

• Have breathing difficulties

If you or your child is having trouble breathing, isn’t taking in enough fluids, or if symptoms appear to worsen, seek emergency medical care as soon as possible.

Can RSV cause any serious complications?

In severe cases or if left untreated, RSV can cause acute medical conditions and even be fatal. Let’s take a closer look at what these complications could be.

Middle ear infection

If the RSV virus enters the ear, it can develop into a bacterial middle-ear infection. This complication is common in babies and young children who are infected.

This infection causes inflammation, redness, and swelling behind the eardrum. Fluid can also buildup, which can cause damage to the ear and contribute to hearing loss.

Hospitalization

Around 2.1 million children younger than five, and between 60,000-120,000 older people have to visit the hospital to get treatment for RSV each year.

This usually happens if the RSV infection progresses into something more severe and requires professional medical attention — like being put on a ventilator.

Pneumonia

Research shows that RSV is one of the most common causes of inflammation in the lungs, also known as pneumonia.

This usually happens if the RSV virus spreads to the lower respiratory tract and infects the lungs.

Pneumonia can be a serious medical condition, especially if it develops in people who have a weakened immune system or suffer from other chronic lung diseases.

Repeated RSV infections

People who have already been infected with the RSV virus have an increased chance of being infected again, compared to those who haven’t had the illness yet.

They also have a high risk of getting RSV during peak infection seasons. However, RSV symptoms are usually not as severe as the first time they were infected.

How is RSV Diagnosed?

If you suspect that you have RSV, you should speak to your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

They will review your medical history and help you decide on the best course of action.

Your doctor will also perform a physical examination, which involves listening to your lungs and checking your oxygen levels.

This often helps them to determine if they should send you for further testing.

If they suspect that you might have RSV, they will likely do a swab test.

During this test, a cotton bud is used to collect mucus from your nose and mouth. The swab is then sent to a laboratory to test for the RSV virus.

If there’s a chance of severe infection, your doctor may also order additional tests to check your lungs and other physiological functions. These tests may include:

• X-rays

• CT scans

• Blood tests

• Urine tests

Who is Most at Risk of Developing RSV?

Anyone who comes into contact with the RSV virus can contract this disease.

However, children and older adults are often more at risk than others.

RSV in children

RSV is a prominent disease in children, especially those younger than five. It’s also a common disease among infants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that most children in the U.S. will have been infected with RSV by their second birthday and that severe illness is likely.

This is largely because a child’s immune system is still developing and might not be able to protect it from harmful organisms yet.

Severe infections can be life-threatening if they aren’t treated correctly or if they are left undetected.

The following groups of children are most likely to develop a severe RSV infection:

• Infants

• Premature babies younger than six months

• Children who have heart diseases present at birth

• Children who suffer from any chronic lung diseases

• Children with weakened immune systems from medical treatments for diseases like cancer

• Children with neuromuscular disorders

RSV in adults

RSV is also common in older adults and individuals with comorbidities, like a chronic lung disease or heart disease.

As we get older, our immune systems weaken and have less ability to ward off harmful viruses like RSV.

If older people develop an RSV infection, the risk of it becoming life-threatening isn’t uncommon.

In fact, the CDC estimates that between six and ten thousand adults die from RSV each year.

That’s why it’s important to seek medical attention right away if you suspect that you might have RSV.

How Can You Prevent an RSV Infection?

There are a number of simple at-home practices that you can implement to decrease the chances of contracting RSV. These include:

• Practice good hygiene by frequently washing your hands and avoiding touching your face to prevent the spread of germs.

• Wear a face mask and isolate yourself from others while you are infectious to avoid infecting healthy people and spreading the illness.

• Encourage your family to stay home while you recover. This helps to avoid spreading RSV to others in the event that your family is infected, but hasn’t shown symptoms yet.

• Avoid joining large social gatherings for extended periods of time if you or your children are at a higher risk of developing RSV, or if it’s peak infection season.

RSV Treatment

Although there is no cure for RSV, there are a number of different RSV treatment options that can make the disease more manageable while you recover. Let's take a look at what those are.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medication and home remedies to treat RSV

Mild RSV infections can usually be treated with a combination of OTC medication and home remedies that help to alleviate symptoms. These include:

• Taking pain and fever medication like Tylenol or Advil

• Using saline nasal drops to relieve congestion

• Drinking plenty of fluids and eating regular meals, even if you don’t have an appetite

• Avoid smoking tobacco or nicotine products

• Use a mist vaporizer or humidifier to help soothe dry breathing passages

• Getting plenty of rest

Your healthcare provider may also prescribe antibiotics as a RSV treatment.

Although antibiotics aren’t a primary treatment for RSV, they can be used to fight secondary diseases like bacterial pneumonia to help prevent further complications.

Medical treatments

Some cases of RSV are severe and require immediate medical attention to prevent a life-threatening situation.

Medical treatment for severe RSV infections may include:

• Getting an oxygen mask or using a ventilator

• Making use of IV drips to help you ingest enough fluids

• Performing procedures to remove mucus

When Should You See a Doctor About RSV Symptoms?

If you suspect that you or your child has RSV, you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

Not only will this help with a quick diagnosis and the correct treatment plan, but it also ensures that you know which steps to take to avoid spreading RSV to others.

You should also seek immediate medical attention if your or any member of your family’s symptoms appear to become worse — such as developing breathing difficulties or struggling to ingest fluids.

Worsening symptoms may indicate a more severe infection and may require professional medical treatment or hospitalization.

Are You Concerned About Potential RSV Symptoms?

If you are experiencing or are worried about any of the symptoms we’ve covered in this article, make a telehealth appointment at LifeMD today, and speak to a board-certified physician or nurse practitioner from the comfort of your home.

Dr. Anthony Puopolo

Dr. Puopolo holds a B.A. in Biology from Tufts University, M.A. in Biology from Boston University, and Doctor of Medicine from the Boston University School of Medicine. He also completed a Family Medicine and Psychiatry residency program in the U.S. Army.

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