RSV
A common winter virus that is mild in most children but a leading cause of hospital care in babies.
Reviewed by TinyDose editorial team
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is so common that almost every child has had it by the age of two. In older children and adults it behaves like a cold. In young babies it can inflame the smallest airways, a condition called bronchiolitis, making feeding and breathing hard work. RSV is one of the most frequent reasons babies are admitted to hospital in their first year. Protection is given as a monoclonal antibody injection rather than a conventional vaccine, or through vaccination during pregnancy.
Symptoms
- Runny nose and a cough, usually first
- Fast or laboured breathing, with the chest drawing in
- Wheezing or a crackly chest
- Feeding much less than usual, in babies the earliest warning sign
- Brief pauses in breathing in very young infants
How it spreads
Spreads easily through droplets from coughs and sneezes and through contaminated hands and surfaces, and circulates mainly in the colder months.
Why it's serious
Most babies with RSV are looked after at home and recover in one to two weeks. The signs that need same-day medical attention are hard or fast breathing, taking much less than half their usual feeds, or any pause in breathing.
- Bronchiolitis, inflammation of the small airways
- Pneumonia
- Dehydration because feeding becomes too tiring
- Need for oxygen or breathing support in hospital
- A tendency to wheeze with later viral infections
Most at risk: Babies in their first six months, infants born prematurely, and children with heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system.
How to prevent RSV
Vaccination is the most effective protection. RSV is prevented by:
Treatment
There is no medicine that clears the virus. Care is supportive: smaller more frequent feeds, keeping the nose clear, and in hospital oxygen or feeding support if needed. Antibiotics do not help a viral infection.
Common questions
Sources
- RSV vaccines and monoclonal antibodies: WHO position · WHO, 2025.
- RSV in Infants and Young Children · CDC, 2026.
Information on this page is compiled from authoritative public health sources and written in TinyDose's own voice. It is intended for general understanding only. Always follow your pediatrician's guidance.
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