Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Patient Education| 2021 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Connected Content Translation: Virus sincitial respiratorio (VSR) Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Pediatric Patient Education 2021; 10.1542/peo_document084 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All AAP SitesAll PublicationsPediatric Patient Education Search Advanced Search Topics: common cold, fever, respiratory syncytial virus infections, respiratory syncytial viruses, rhinorrhea, wheezing, hand, infant, premature Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects almost all children at least once before they are 2 years of age. Most of the time, this virus only causes minor cold-like symptoms. However, for some babies infection can be more dangerous. For certain infants who are born extremely preterm (before 29 weeks of pregnancy) or who are born with severe heart or lung disease, any viral infection can be more serious. Very preterm infants often have underdeveloped lungs and may have difficulty fighting a viral infection once they become infected. Each year, about 100,000 children are hospitalized in the United States with RSV infection, and approximately 100 of these children will die. In the first 2 years of life, RSV is the leading cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis (a swelling of the small airways), and it may be associated with wheezing. Infants born prematurely... © 2020 American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. You do not currently have access to this content.