Adult Medicine, Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Teen Health

RSV Season is Here

11
Nov

by Ashley Guidry, Communications Associate

Coughs, colds, flu, oh my! Keep your family healthy this RSV season.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are cold-like symptoms that infect your lungs and respiratory tracts. The virus begins spreading around October and then all the way to the end of April. Although the virus can affect anyone, it is known for targeting infants and adults 65 years and older. There was a decrease in RSV activity during the Covid outbreak in early 2020 and it has remained low until recently. There has been a spike in RSV cases since mid-May 2021. This makes infants and elderly more susceptible to the virus since they lacked the typical exposure during those 15 months.

Notable Symptoms:

  • Infants may experience irritability, poor feeding, apnea, or lethargy (lack of energy and motivation).
  • Children and Infants older than 6 months may experience a runny nose and decreased appetite followed by coughing, sneezing, fever, even wheezing.
  • Adults experience respiratory tract infections which includes a runny nose, sore throat, cough, headaches, fatigue, and fever.

RSV is contagious and can spread through sneezing or coughing. And unlike the flu, there is not a vaccine for RSV, so it’s best to take initial steps to prevent getting in contact with the virus. We spoke with Legacy’s Associate Chief of Clinical Services, Dr. Tamisha Jones, on steps we could take to prevent RSV.

“The same precautions we have been taking for the past two and a half years will help us through this increase in RSV infections. This includes washing or sanitizing hands frequently, staying home (or keeping kids home) when ill, and sneezing or coughing into your elbow.”

Clean your spaces and wipe off countertops too since RSV can live several hours on hard surfaces. Basically, take the same precautions as you would do with Covid. Although there are some similarities between Covid and RSV, a notable difference is that RSV consists of more wheezing. Covid has more abnormal symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. Keep your hands clean and try not to get in close contact with anyone you know is sick.

Stay safe and be conscious of your own health this holiday season. For more tips and information about RSV, check out the links below!

If you don’t feel well or experience any symptoms, please get in contact with our providers to get checked. Call (832) 548-5000 or please visit us online to schedule an appointment.