RSV: What it is and how to protect your baby from it

Preventing the spread of viruses like respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a high priority for The Woman’s Hospital of Texas. This highly contagious virus typically causes mild cold-like symptoms in adults but can lead to more serious respiratory or lung infections in young children. Cases of RSV are seen year-round, but it is most common in the fall and winter, with hospitals seeing an increase in cases from October to March.

Dr. Patti Savrick, a pediatrician at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas, explains RSV symptoms to be aware of and shares information about the RSV vaccine, which can be administered during pregnancy.

“Generally speaking, RSV symptoms include a clear runny nose and a hacky-sounding cough,” explains Dr. Savrick. “The nasal symptoms usually last 10 to 14 days, and the cough can linger for several weeks. Most kids feel the worst starting on day three and lasting seven days.”

For some children, particularly infants or children with asthma, RSV can progress to the lower respiratory tract, including the small airways (bronchioles) within the lungs, leading to bronchiolitis.

“Children with lower tract infection often are found to be wheezing and have a very bad cough,” said Dr. Savrick. “In some situations, this can lead to respiratory distress and low oxygenation levels requiring hospitalization.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year in the United States, an estimated 58,000 – 80,000 children younger than the age of 5 are hospitalized due to RSV.

“We have already seen an increase in RSV hospitalizations in our pediatric unit this year,” said Dr. Savrick. “It is important that we continue to educate our patients about the RSV vaccine, which can help increase RSV antibodies in infants and protect them against RSV. Before the vaccines, our main tools to fight this infection were supportive ones, including fluids, supplemental oxygen, and sometimes nebulized medications and steroids.”

Two different manufacturers now make a vaccine that can be given to pregnant people and a specific group of babies and young children.

The maternal RSV vaccine is recommended for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation.

“We encourage women to get this vaccine, especially if their due date is during respiratory season,” said Dr. Savrick. “This vaccine will allow the mother’s immune system to produce antibodies against RSV that travel through the placenta and circulate in the newborn’s bloodstream, which will help protect her newborn against severe complications from RSV infection.”

For infants younger than 8 months whose mother didn’t receive the RSV maternal vaccine during pregnancy, we recommend a monoclonal antibody to prevent severe RSV. It is also recommended for children 8 to 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV due to severe immunocompromise, cystic fibrosis and chronic lung disease.

“This is a dose of antibody specifically against RSV. This medication is delivered by injection into the infant's thigh and is very well tolerated by newborns, even in the first few days of life,” explained Dr. Savrick. “If the mother receives the maternal RSV vaccine, it is not recommended for your baby to receive the antibody dose as the protection from the vaccine will last for approximately six months.”

RSV is a frequent cause for a trip to the pediatrician’s office. Last year, an estimated 2 million RSV office visits were reported. Pediatricians regularly encounter infants with RSV and are aware of how quickly symptoms can worsen. With these newly developed preventative treatments, pediatricians are optimistic that they will lead to a noticeable reduction in RSV-related hospitalizations in their young patients.

“Please speak to your obstetrician about the RSV vaccine if you are pregnant and to your pediatrician about the RSV antibody dose if you have a child under 8 months,” said Dr. Savrick.

For more detailed information about RSV immunizations, including which children might be considered "older infants" eligible for certain vaccines, you should consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date guidelines.