Allison J. Lopez, MD

Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, may appear like a bad cold to adults. For infants or young children, RSV can cause bronchiolitis -- a virus which causes swelling and an increase in mucus in the airway. This can cause difficulty breathing through their nose and eventually dehydration due to difficulty latching to the breast or bottle for infants. Other symptoms of RSV may include a fever or a very wet sounding cough, which can turn into coughing fits. Those coughing fits can cause a child to gag and potentially vomit.

If you think your child has RSV or bronchiolitis, it is important to keep your child hydrated and monitor for fever or shortness of breath. Contact your child’s doctor, who can test for RSV and provide recommendations to keep your child safe at home. If your child’s health situation is serious or life-threatening, go to the nearest ER or call 911.

By staying home when you or a loved one is ill and washing your hands regularly, you can help keep yourself and your children healthy.