Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Protect Your Family from RSV

For many people, RSV feels like a common cold. It takes a couple of weeks to get better, and most people fully recover. But for more vulnerable groups, like babies and older adults, RSV can cause severe infection and life-threatening illness.

Get prepared for RSV by understanding the symptoms and doing what you can to stop the spread. RSV immunization methods help protect higher risk groups from experiencing the most extreme symptoms.

How Serious is RSV?

RSV is a common respiratory virus that causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract. Often, people have been infected by age 2.

RSV Symptoms for Healthy Adults and Children

For most adults and older children who are healthy, RSV symptoms are similar to the common cold, appear four to six days after exposure and go away within a couple of weeks. They may include:

• Congested or runny nose
• Dry cough
• Low-grade fever
• Sore throat
• Sneezing
• Headache

RSV Symptoms for Higher Risk Groups

Those with weakened immune systems, like older adults, babies, people who are immunocompromised, or those with heart or lung disease, may experience more severe cases of RSV. For this group, RSV can cause life-threatening infection and require a hospital stay.

Severe RSV Symptoms (Older Kids and Adults)

In severe cases, RSV can spread through the respiratory tract, causing symptoms like:

• Fever
• Severe cough
• Wheezing
• Rapid or difficulty breathing
• Blueish or grayish skin

Severe RSV Symptoms (Infants)

In infants, signs of severe RSV include:

• Short, shallow and rapid breathing
• Struggling to breathe
• Cough
• Poor feeding
• Unusual tiredness
• Irritability

Where Can I Get an RSV Vaccine or Immunization?

Sanford Health offers a variety of ways to receive the vaccinations you need to stay healthy. You can schedule a vaccine visit on My Sanford Chart or by calling a Sanford Health location near you.

Schedule a Vaccine Appointment

Find a Location

My Sanford Chart

If you don’t have My Sanford Chart, you can make an appointment online.

How Can You Prevent RSV?

RSV spreads in a few ways:

• Virus droplets land in your eyes, nose or mouth when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• You come in direct contact with the virus, like kissing the face of a child.
• You touch a surface with the virus on it, like a doorknob, and then touch your face.

People with RSV are usually contagious for three to eight days, often before they show signs of illness. The virus can survive on hard surfaces for many hours.

Help Stop the Spread of RSV

Everyone can help stop the spread of RSV by practicing good hygiene:

• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Stay home when you feel sick.

Additionally, RSV immunization helps prevent severe cases in vulnerable groups. It won’t completely stop RSV from spreading, but it can help keep people out of the hospital. Make it a part of your RSV prevention plan.