Skip to main content

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection

Sahil Mullick, FAAFP, MD and Krupali Thakar, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a medium-sized, membrane-bound RNA virus that causes acute respiratory tract illness in patients of all ages. 

DESCRIPTION

  • In adults, RSV causes upper respira...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • History of prematurity, secondhand tobacco smoke exposure, daycare, number and age of siblings

  • Immunization history

  • Family history of respiratory disease

  • Children

    • Nasal conge...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Treatment for patients with RSV is supportive .

  • Nasal suction and lubrication. Antipyretics for fever. Treat dehydration (oral or intravenous/nasogastric)—particularly in infa...

ONGOING CARE

  • Ad26.RSV.preF demonstrated protection from RSV infection through immunization in a human challenge model, and therefore could potentially protect against natural RSV infection and disease...

REFERENCES

1
Ralston SL, Lieberthal AS, Meissner HC, et al. Clinical practice guideline: the diagnosis, management, and prevention of bronchiolitis [published correction appears in Pediatrics. 2015;136...

CODES

ICD10

  • B97.4 Respiratory syncytial virus causing diseases classd elswhr

  • J06.9 Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified

  • J21.0 Acute bronchiolitis due to respiratory syncytial virus

  • J12.1 Respira...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • RSV causes 50–90% of pediatric bronchiolitis.

  • Hand sanitation (alcohol-based rubs are preferred) is the key to RSV prevention.

  • The diagnosis of RSV is typically clinical. Routine laborat...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

 
×