RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus): The Quick Reference
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus): the whole thing in five minutes, for when you want the numbers and nothing else.
A common respiratory virus that usually causes cold-like symptoms but can cause serious lung infections in babies and older adults.
Key takeaways
- Usual illness: cold-like symptoms that improve within 1 to 2 weeks
- Protecting a newborn: an RSV vaccine at 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, or an RSV antibody shot for the baby
- Most useful single change: Ask your prenatal provider or your baby's doctor which RSV option fits your family.
- Commonest mistake: Smoking or vaping around babies and children.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Usual illness | cold-like symptoms that improve within 1 to 2 weeks |
| Protecting a newborn | an RSV vaccine at 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, or an RSV antibody shot for the baby |
| Infant antibody shot | for babies under 8 months entering their first RSV season whose mother was not vaccinated, and some higher-risk toddlers in their second season |
| Adult vaccine | one dose for everyone 75 and older, and for adults 50 to 74 at increased risk |
| Season | fall and winter in most of the US |
In one paragraph
RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization in US infants, and there are now ways to protect both babies and older adults.
Worth doing
- Ask your prenatal provider or your baby's doctor which RSV option fits your family
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you need the adult RSV vaccine; it is a single dose, not yearly
- Keep sick people away from young babies and wash hands before holding them
- For a congested baby, use saline drops and gentle suction, and offer feeds often
Worth avoiding
- Smoking or vaping around babies and children
- Giving over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to young children without a doctor's advice
- Assuming an adult cold cannot be passed to a newborn
Related topics
- Colds and Flu: What Published Guidance Supports (Immunity)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Vaccination in Pregnancy (Vaccinations)
- Vaccines During Pregnancy: What the Evidence Actually Says (Pregnancy and Postpartum)
- The Evidence on Pneumonia, Without the Hype (Respiratory Health)
Where to go next
- What People Get Wrong About RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
- Starting Out With RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
- RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) — the reference entry
- Infectious Diseases: The Complete Guide
- COVID-19: What the Evidence Actually Says
- What the Guidance Really Says About Flu Versus a Cold
When to speak to a doctor
Call your doctor if a baby is feeding poorly, has fewer wet diapers, or has a fever, or if an older adult's breathing or symptoms get worse. Call 911 for fast or labored breathing, pauses in breathing, grunting, ribs or belly pulling in with each breath, or bluish lips or skin.
Where this comes from
- CDC — About RSV
- CDC — RSV Immunization Guidance for Infants and Young Children
- CDC — RSV Vaccine Guidance for Adults
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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