RSV Symptoms, Causes & TreatmentLocations:||||||Home/Health Library/Diseases & Conditions/RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)AdvertisementAdvertisementRSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)RSV is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. Babies, kids and adults can get it. It can cause mild symptoms, but sometimes — especially in babies and older adults — it can lead to severe difficulty breathing. Babies can get a monoclonal antibody treatment to help protect them. There’s a vaccine available for adults over 60 and pregnant women.AdvertisementCleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. PolicyCare at Cleveland ClinicFind a Primary Care ProviderSchedule an AppointmentContentsArrow DownContentsArrow DownWhat Is RSV?Kristin Barrett, MD, explains how RSV spreads and how it’s treated.RSV is a respiratory illness that can cause cold-like symptoms or, sometimes, serious illness. RSV stands for respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, the germ that makes you sick with RSV. Almost everyone gets it for the first time before the age of 2. But the protection (immunity) you get from being infected doesn’t last, so you can get it more than once.AdvertisementCleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. PolicyRSV is more common than you might think. We most often hear about babies getting severely ill from RSV, but adults and kids of all ages get it. Infants are more likely to get very sick from RSV because their immune systems are still developing. Their smaller airways are also more likely to get inflamed.You can also get RSV many times throughout your life — sometimes even twice in one year. For adults, it usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. But adults over 65 and people with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk for serious illness.Symptoms and CausesRSV can affect adults, kids and babies differently. Watch for signs of difficulty breathing, like flared nostrils.RSV symptomsCoughTrouble breathingPauses in breathing in young infantsRunny or stuffy noseSneezingSore throatHeadacheFatigueFeverNot feeling hungrySymptoms in babies or young kids might look a little different. They might seem fussy or irritable, or they might not want to play as they usually would. Contact your healthcare provider if your child is younger than a year old and has RSV symptoms.Go to an emergency room if you or your child has severe symptoms. These include:Shortness of breath or trouble breathingWheezing or noisy breathingBluish or grayish skin, lips or nailsSkin pulling in between your child’s ribs when they breathe (retractions)Nostrils spreading out (flaring) when breathingShort, shallow or fast breathing, or pauses in breathingAdvertisementRSV causesA virus — respiratory syncytial virus — causes RSV. It’s not caused by bacteria. RSV spreads through:Close contact with someone who has itCoughing and sneezing (respiratory droplets)Contaminated objects or surfaces (think toys, countertops and phones)Is RSV contagious?Yes, RSV is contagious while you have symptoms — usually three to eight days. RSV spreads easily from person to person. It can live on hard surfaces, like tables, for several hours.You may be able to spread RSV a day or two before you develop symptoms. Babies and people with compromised immune systems may be contagious even after symptoms go away, for up to four weeks.Complications of RSVRSV can cause complications that make it hard to breathe. They include:BronchitisPneumoniaBronchiolitisWorsening of existing conditions like asthma, congestive heart failure or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)Respiratory failureHypoxia or low oxygen levelsDehydrationEar infectionsRisk factorsBabies born early (preterm) and kids under 2 years old have smaller airways and are more likely to get severely sick from RSV. You’re also at a higher risk if you:Are over age 65Have a compromised immune systemHave heart disease, including congenital heart diseaseHave chronic lung conditions, like asthmaDiagnosis and TestsHow doctors diagnose RSVA healthcare provider swabs your nose with a soft-tipped stick to test for RSV. They may get a chest X-ray to look for pneumonia and other complications.Management and TreatmentHow is RSV treated?There’s no specific treatment for RSV. If you or your child has severe RSV, you may need to stay in the hospital to recover. There, providers might help you get better with:Oxygen therapy to get more oxygen into your bodyFluids through an IV to prevent dehydrationMechanical ventilation (a ventilator) if you can’t breathe on your ownAntibiotics don’t treat RSV since it’s a virus.When should I see my healthcare provider?Call a pediatrician if your child has RSV symptoms and is under 12 months old. You should also call if your child has any of the following:A temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius (if your baby is under 3 months old)A fever above 104 degrees F and 40 degrees C (at any age)Symptoms that don’t improve or get worse after a weekEar drainage or tugging at their ears (possible signs of an ear infection)Difficulty breathing or bad coughing fitsWheezing or noisy breathingAdults can often manage RSV symptoms on their own. Call a healthcare provider if you have symptoms and at least one of the following applies to you:You’re over age 65You have a compromised immune systemYou have a heart or lung conditionAdvertisementYour provider will let you know if you should come in for a checkup and what severe symptoms to look out for.When should I go to the ER?Go to an emergency room if you or your child has severe RSV symptoms. These include signs of difficulty breathing — like wheezing, flaring nostrils, chest retractions, or bluish or grayish skin color.Care at Cleveland ClinicFind a Primary Care ProviderSchedule an AppointmentOutlook / PrognosisHow long does RSV last?RSV can last a week or two. You might have a lingering cough for a while. Severe cases of RSV may last longer.Is there anything I can do to feel better?If you have mild symptoms, you can take care of yourself at home with:A cool-mist humidifier to help with breathingNasal saline spray to help relieve cough and congestionSuctioning your child’s nose to remove mucusPlenty of fluids to avoid dehydrationOver-the-counter (OTC) medications (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen)Always check with your provider or your child’s pediatrician before using any medications or giving them to kids.PreventionCan RSV be prevented?There are some things you can do to help protect yourself from RSV. Babies up to 8 months old and some toddlers at high risk can get a monoclonal antibody immunization. This gives them antibodies that can help them fight off an RSV infection.Pregnant women and adults 75 and older (or 60 and older with certain health conditions) are eligible for RSV vaccines. Talk to your healthcare provider about what’s best for you and your family.AdvertisementOther steps you can take include:Wash your hands. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food.Limit exposure to germs. Avoid taking your baby out in large crowds, especially during cold and flu season. Avoid play dates or other close contact with kids who are sick.Clean commonly touched surfaces. Disinfect toys, tables, doorknobs and other surfaces that people in your house touch often.A note from Cleveland ClinicRSV can be as mild as a cold. Or it can turn into something more serious. The important thing is to keep an eye out for signs of serious illness. If you feel something isn’t right — even if you think you or your child just has a cold — don’t hesitate to call a provider or seek emergency care.AdvertisementCare at Cleveland ClinicCleveland Clinic’s primary care providers offer lifelong medical care. From sinus infections and high blood pressure to preventive screening, we’re here for you.Find a Primary Care ProviderSchedule an AppointmentMedically ReviewedLast reviewed on 05/07/2025.Learn more about the and our .ReferencesAdvertisementAdvertisementAdQuestions Appointments & LocationsRequest an AppointmentFind a Primary Care ProviderRendered: Fri Sep 19 2025 02:07:18 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)ActionsBlog, News & AppsAbout Cleveland ClinicSite Information & Policies9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 | 800.223.2273 | © 2025 Cleveland Clinic. All Rights Reserved., Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection most commonly appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms., RSV can affect adults, kids and babies differently. Watch for signs of difficulty breathing, like flared nostrils. Symptoms in babies or young kids might look a little different. They might seem fussy or irritable, or they might not want to play as they usually would..