Key Facts
- RSV is a common cause of lower respiratory tract infections like pneumonia.
- RSV can be dangerous for certain high-risk adults.
- Up to 160,000 older adults are hospitalized in the United States each year.
Understanding RSV in Adults
RSV is a common virus that you have undoubtedly been sick with before. You might not have known that you had RSV because without a lab test to confirm diagnosis, it is typically lumped together with other respiratory infections that cause cold-like symptoms. It is possible to get RSV multiple times, even in the same year, because you do not develop complete immunity to it.
So, what’s the big deal? RSV has the potential to make you really sick. Usually, as an adult, when you become ill with RSV you have mild cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough and a headache. But sometimes, and for some people, you can become so ill you need to be hospitalized. And each year in the United States up to 10,000 older adults die of complications from RSV.
Are you at risk for severe RSV?
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) can be dangerous for some high-risk adults, yet many people do not know they are at increased risk.
Answer these questions to find out if you are at high risk and next steps to help protect yourself from RSV.
Are you 75 years old or older?
Please confirm.
As you age, your immune system weakens, making it harder to fight off infections. As a result, older adults tend to have more severe respiratory infections.
Are you 60 or older and have asthma, COPD, chronic heart disease, a weakened immune system, severe diabetes, or severe obesity?
Please confirm.
RSV symptoms can last longer, cause hospitalization, and lead to other health conditions, including worsening of your asthma or COPD symptoms, pneumonia, bronchiolitis or congestive heart failure.
Have you spoken with your healthcare provider about your risk of RSV and prevention measures you could take?
Please confirm.
RSV usually begins with mild cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough and headache. Emergency symptoms include shortness of breath, high fever, bluish tint to your skin, wheezing and worsening cough. Vaccines are available to help prevent severe RSV in eligible adults.
Results
Summary of your answers:
-
Are you 65 years old or older?
Yes - Since you are at or over 75 years old, you are at higher risk for severe RSV. -
Are you 65 years old or older?
No -
Do you have asthma, COPD, chronic heart disease or a weakened immune system?
Yes - As an older adult, living with asthma, COPD, chronic heart disease, being immunosuppressed, having severe diabetes or obesity increases your risk of severe RSV. -
Do you have asthma, COPD, chronic heart disease or a weakened immune system?
No -
Have you spoken with your healthcare provider about your risk of RSV and prevention measures you could take?
Yes -
Have you spoken with your healthcare provider about your risk of RSV and prevention measures you could take?
No - Visit Lung.org/rsv to learn ways to help prevent RSV and talk to your healthcare provider about your risk and RSV vaccination.
In addition to vaccination to help protect against RSV in eligible adults, there are actions you can take to protect yourself and others from the health risks caused by RSV. These include handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and taking steps for cleaner indoor air (like filtering air or bringing fresh outside air in). You can learn more at Lung.org/rsv
Adults at highest risk for severe RSV illness:
- Adults with chronic lung or heart disease
- Adults with a weakened immune system
- Adults 75 and older
- Adults with certain chronic medical conditions, like severe diabetes and severe obesity
- Adults living in long-term care or nursing homes
RSV symptoms typically last from two to eight days though they can last longer, especially when they lead to other serious conditions such as:
- A worsening of your asthma or COPD symptoms.
An RSV infection may cause you to have an asthma attack or COPD exacerbation, causing additional strain on your already compromised lungs. - Pneumonia.
An infection of the lungs, pneumonia causes the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs to become inflamed and fill with fluid. This makes it harder for you to breathe and can become life-threatening. - Bronchiolitis.
An infection of the lungs, bronchiolitis causes inflammation of the small airways (bronchial) in your lungs. - Congestive heart failure.
An RSV infection may cause more severe cardiac symptoms to occur.
RSV Vaccination FAQs
Treating RSV in Adults
There is no specific treatment for RSV infection, so fluids and rest are the best advice for mild symptoms. If you have COPD or asthma, be sure to maintain use of prescribed medications to reduce breathing difficulties and speak with your healthcare provider if you think your medications might need to be adjusted.
If you are admitted to the hospital for severe disease, you will likely be put on IV fluids if you are dehydrated. You may be put on supplemental oxygen to improve your oxygen saturation. Antibiotics may be given if you develop a secondary infection such as bacterial pneumonia.
Recovering from RSV as an Adult
As you age, your body naturally loses some of the disease-fighting abilities it had. This means it may take you longer to recover from respiratory infections like RSV. It’s important to check in with your healthcare provider about any new or lingering symptoms you are experiencing.
Page last updated: August 1, 2024
