It’s important that all eligible people get vaccinated against COVID-19, flu and RSV, not only to protect themselves but the vulnerable people around them.
It’s autumn. In other words, it’s virus time.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is getting a lot of attention this year. If you’re wondering what it is and what you should do about it, here’s some information from Mayo Clinic, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Lung Association.
What it is – RSV is a virus that infects the lungs and respiratory tract, causing cold-like symptoms. It spreads like a cold virus from person to person. It enters the body through the nose or eyes, usually from contact with infected saliva, mucus or nasal discharge. This virus usually occurs in the late fall through early spring months. The timing can vary in some parts of the country. The virus can be very dangerous for some adults, children and babies.
Who’s at risk: Adults – 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 headache. But RSV can be dangerous for some high-risk adults, causing some people to be hospitalized. And each year in the United States, thousands of older adults die of complications from RSV. Three identified groups at high risk for severe RSV include:
People are also reading…
• Adults with chronic lung or heart disease;
• Adults with a weakened immune system; and
• Older adults, especially those 65 years and over.
RSV symptoms typically last from two to eight days, though they can last longer, especially when they lead to other serious conditions like pneumonia, bronchitis and congestive heart failure or a worsening of asthma or COPD symptoms.
Protection: Adults – In June 2023, the CDC recommended RSV vaccination for adults 60 or older after discussing with your health care provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for you. There are currently two licensed RSV vaccines for adults 60+ and they are available now at many local pharmacies.
Treating RSV in Adults – There is no specific treatment for RSV infection, so vaccination is especially important for adults at higher risk. Fluids and rest are the best advice for mild symptoms. Those with COPD or asthma should maintain use of prescribed medications to reduce breathing difficulties and speak with their health care provider about whether medications need to be adjusted.
Who’s at risk: Children – For most healthy children, RSV is like a cold. It's so common that most children have been infected with it by the time they're 2 years old. But some children get very sick with RSV, and it is the most common cause of hospitalization in children under 1 year of age. Typically, RSV causes cold symptoms, which may be followed by bronchiolitis or pneumonia. RSV symptoms are typically at their worst on days three through five of illness. Symptoms generally last an average of seven to 14 days.
Some children with RSV may be at increased risk of developing a bacterial infection, such as an ear infection. Call your doctor if your child has:
• Symptoms that worsen or do not start to improve after 7 days;
• A fever (with a rectal temperature of 100.4°F or higher) and they are younger than 3 months of age (12 weeks);
• A fever that rises above 104°F repeatedly for a child of any age;
• Poor sleep or fussiness, chest pain, ear tugging or ear drainage.
Two to three out of every 100 infants with RSV infection may require a hospital stay. Those babies may need oxygen to help with breathing or intravenous IV fluids if they are not eating or drinking. Most of these children get better and can go home after a few days.
Protection: Children – A treatment for children that works like an immunization is called nirsevimab and helps prevent serious illness from RSV. Nirsevimab is given as an injection and may be included with a baby's routine immunizations. The shot works a bit different than a vaccine. It provides antibodies that start working to protect babies right away. The protection lasts for the duration of a typical RSV season. Dosage is different depending on age and whether the child is in their first or second season of RSV.
Another product called palivizumab is given as a monthly injection during RSV season and has been used to prevent RSV disease. It is for children under age 24 months with certain conditions that place them at high risk for severe RSV. Under most circumstances, children who receive nirsevimab should not get palivizumab.
Putting it into perspective – Each year in the United States, RSV leads to approximately 6,000-10,000 deaths among adults 65 years and older and 100-300 deaths in children younger than 5 years. In comparison, COVID accounted for over 250,000 deaths in 2022, and close to 60,000 deaths year-to-date in 2023. COVID is not seasonal in the way that flu and RSV are, but cases have tended to spike from November to April. While mortality from COVID has decreased, COVID continues to cause a significant number of hospitalizations and deaths.
During the 2022-2023 flu season, it’s estimated that the U.S. saw approximately 58,000 deaths due to flu. Going forward, COVID is still on pace to be more lethal than the flu this year and far more lethal than RSV.
Staying safe – As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s important that all eligible people get vaccinated against COVID, flu and RSV, not only to protect themselves but the vulnerable people around them. Parents can stay on the job, kids can stay in school and families can stay connected by staying up-to-date on all vaccinations. Find more information about the new COVID vaccine at HealthyLincoln.org/covid-vax-info and vaccine locations at vaccines.gov.
Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln (HealthyLincoln.org) and LNKTV Health (LNKTVhealth.lincoln.ne.gov) bring you Health and the City, a monthly column that examines relevant community health issues and spotlights the local organizations that impact community wellness. Direct questions or comments to [email protected].
