Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is now recognised as a significant problem in elderly adults. Epidemiological evidence indicates the impact of RSV in older adults may be similar to non-pandemic influenza, both in the community and in long-term care facilities.Author:
Ann R. Falsey, Ann R. Falsey, Edward E. Walsh, Edward E. WalshCited by:
Publish Year:
2005

Is RSV bad for elderly?

Older adults who get very sick from RSV may need to be hospitalized. Some may even die. Older adults are at greater risk than young adults for serious complications from RSV because our immune systems weaken when we are older.

What does RSV look like in adults?

In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold- like signs and symptoms. These may include: Congested or runny nose. Dry cough.

How long does the RSV virus last in adults?

RSV can live on hard surfaces for many hours. It takes between two to eight days from the time a person is exposed to the RSV to show symptoms. Symptoms generally last three to seven days . Most children and adults recover fully in one to two weeks .

How is RSV treated in the elderly?

RSV treatment in adults is supportive, including antipyretics, supplemental oxygen, and intravenous fluids as needed. 31 Inhaled or systemic corticosteroids and bronchodilators may be used for elderly patients or patients with preexisting pulmonary conditions (e.g., asthma, COPD) with acute wheezing.

How contagious is RSV in adults?

People infected with RSV are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days .

How long does it take RSV to run its course?

Most RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two. There is no specific treatment for RSV infection , though researchers are working to develop vaccines and antivirals (medicines that fight viruses).

What does RSV breathing sound like?

Children with RSV typically have two to four days of upper respiratory tract symptoms, such as fever and runny nose/congestion. These are then followed by lower respiratory tract symptoms, like increasing cough that sounds wet and forceful, wheezing and increased work breathing .

How do you know if you have RSV or a cold?

Typically, RSV causes a cold , which may be followed by bronchiolitis or pneumonia. ​Symptoms may include cold symptoms, plus: Fast breathing. Flaring of the nostrils. Head bobbing with breathing. Rhythmic grunting during breathing. Belly breathing, tugging between their ribs, and/or tugging at the lower neck. Wheezing.

How do they test for RSV in adults?

There are a few different types of RSV testing : Nasal aspirate. A health care provider will inject a saline solution into the nose, then remove the sample with gentle suction. Swab test . A health care provider will use a special swab to take a sample from the nose or throat. A blood test .

What happens if RSV goes untreated?

In the community (where you live, work, shop, and go to school), MRSA most often causes skin infections. In some cases, it causes pneumonia (lung infection) and other infections. If left untreated , MRSA infections can become severe and cause sepsis—the body’s extreme response to an infection.

What does RSV do to the lungs?

RSV infection is most serious when it affects the small breathing tubes (called bronchioles) in the lungs . This condition is called acute bronchiolitis. RSV can also cause pneumonia, which is an infection in the rest of the lung.

Is RSV serious?

For most babies and young children, the infection causes nothing more than a cold. But for a small percentage, infection with RSV can lead to serious , sometimes life-threatening problems such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways of the lungs.

Is RSV contagious elderly?

Each year, roughly 177,000 older adults are hospitalized, and 14,000 of them die in the United States alone due to an RSV infection. Because the virus is so contagious , it can spread rapidly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, putting whole communities at risk.

What is the mortality rate of RSV?

Even in children hospitalized with RSV infection , mortality is less than 1%, and fewer than 500 deaths per year are attributed to RSV in the United States. However, in select groups of high-risk patients, appreciable mortality and increased morbidity still may result from this infection .

What are the long term effects of RSV?

RSV infection can induce a state of bronchial hyper-reactivity that has an association with the development of asthma in later life (Balfour-Lynn, 1996), which, in turn, is a major risk factor of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adulthood (Svanes et al., 2010)..