Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common and contagious seasonal virus that typically affects infants and young children. It spreads through respiratory droplets, and like most viral infections, RSV tends to clear up on its own or with the help of supportive care focusing on symptom management. That being said, it is also the most common cause of hospitalization among infants and could lead to serious lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Symptoms of RSV in infants
RSV symptoms can vary significantly depending on the child’s age. Among infants, these symptoms look quite similar to a common cold, such as a fever, i.e., 100.4F or higher, a wet or dry cough, a runny nose, congestion, and sneezing. The discomfort these symptoms cause may also lead to infants losing their appetite or becoming more fussy.

If complications like bronchiolitis, which causes swelling in the airways in the lungs, arise, infants may also experience certain symptoms. These include rapid breathing, flared nostrils, grunting sounds while inhaling, caved-in chest while breathing, and wheezing. Parents or caregivers should treat any changes in infants’ breathing patterns as an emergency and promptly call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room.

Management options for RSV
Most infants do not need formal medical management for RSV. Instead, pediatricians generally recommend relying on at-home management options to ease RSV symptoms in infants.

1. Keep up on hydration
Many infants experience loss of appetite because of RSV, which may make them avoid breastfeeding or drinking from their bottle. This could lead to dehydration, with symptoms such as dry mouth, little urine output, and sunken eyes. To prevent this from happening, provide them with plenty of liquids.

2. Relieve congestion using suction
To ease congestion in infants, suction devices like nasal aspirators or snot suckers may be helpful. This will also make them feel lighter, making breathing, eating, and drinking easier. Caregivers and parents should note that excessive suctioning can be irritating for children, so exercise caution when using this strategy.

3. Rely on saline sprays and humidifiers
Saline sprays can break up thick mucus, helping infants breathe comfortably. In dry environments, they may also benefit from a cool mist humidifier. Using clean water is important to avoid fungal growth inside the house. It is also recommended to avoid using vaporizers, as they can present a burn hazard.

4. Sit in a steamy room
Steam can be a great way for infants to break up mucus and ease inflammation in the airways. To create a steamy room at home, caregivers can simply turn on a warm shower in a closed bathroom and let it fill up with steam. They can sit here with infants for a short while, about 10 minutes, and follow this up by breathing cooler air to restore normal breathing.

Infants with severe infections may need hospital admission, where doctors can administer a range of medical treatments like IV fluids, humidified oxygen, or mechanical ventilation until breathing improves.