What All Older Adults Should Know About Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that affects people of all ages. For many, it acts much like the common cold. However, RSV can lead to significant health complications in infants, adults over 60, and individuals with asthma, heart failure, or other chronic conditions.

Board-certified pulmonologist Chuan Jiang, MD, at Chuan Jiang Medicine in Flushing, New York, specializes in diagnosing and treating infectious lung diseases like pneumonia, COVID-19, tuberculosis, and RSV.  

Here, Dr. Jiang addresses the basics of RSV, its symptoms, how it spreads, and what you can do to prevent or manage this common virus.

Understanding the health risks of RSV

RSV is a highly contagious virus that primarily affects the respiratory tract. Symptoms tend to mimic the common cold initially and may never progress beyond that in healthy adults and older children.

However, RSV can lead to severe illnesses in vulnerable populations. For instance, it’s the leading cause of bronchiolitis in infants, which can become life-threatening if not treated promptly.

For adults over 60 and those with chronic medical conditions, RSV is a leading cause of pneumonia, asthma exacerbations, worsening heart failure, and other serious health complications. 

About 200,000 adults are hospitalized annually because of RSV, and 15% of those require admission to intensive care.

Symptoms of RSV in adults

For adults, RSV symptoms can resemble those of a common cold, flu, or allergy attack. These may include:

• Coughing and sneezing
• Low-grade fever
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat

Shortness of breath is another symptom of RSV, especially in adults with asthma, COPD, and other chronic conditions.

Most healthy adults can clear an RSV infection on their own, with symptoms resolving within 3-4 days.  

However, Dr. Jiang recommends adults over 60 or individuals with a compromised immune system seek medical attention if they aren’t feeling significantly better after 2-3 days or sooner if symptoms worsen.

How does RSV spread?

RSV spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also spread by touching a surface contaminated with the virus and touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

RSV is highly contagious, and individuals can transmit the virus even if they have mild or no symptoms. Adults living in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and assisted living communities are especially vulnerable.

Who is at risk of serious illness from RSV?

Along with age, factors that increase your risk of serious illness from RSV include a history of:

• Asthma, COPD, and other chronic lung disease
• Crohn’s disease, psoriatic arthritis, and other autoimmune disorders
• Organ transplant
• Chemotherapy, radiation, or other cancer treatments
• Heart disease

Because it’s a virus, RSV does not respond to antibiotics. However, fever reducers, IV fluids, supplemental oxygen, and other therapies can help reduce your symptoms.  

Can you prevent RSV?

Preventing RSV includes typical precautions against viral illnesses, including:

• Regular handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Avoiding touching potentially contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs or countertops
• Staying home when you feel ill and limiting your exposure to others who are ill
• Practicing healthy behaviors, such as a nutritious diet, restful sleep habits, etc.
• Carefully managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease

Additionally, the FDA has recently licensed two vaccines for RSV that the CDC recommends. These immunizations are only available to adults over 60. A third vaccine has been licensed for use in pregnant women (32-36 weeks gestation), which may help prevent RSV in infants.  

Otherwise, Dr. Jiang recommends seeking medical advice if you suspect you have RSV, especially if you’re having trouble breathing or belong to a high-risk group.

To find out more about RSV and the vaccines available, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Jiang today by calling his office or requesting an appointment online.