What Older Adults Need to Know About RSV
- Updated on: 2023-01-09
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That’s bad news ahead of what many experts say could be a stormy season for flu and COVID-19. All three illnesses — RSV, influenza and COVID-19 — share a similar list of symptoms. And all three cause complications in adults with certain chronic health conditions and in those who are 65 and older.
“I think RSV is a virus that’s been a little bit under the radar screen, but it’s responsible for a significant number of infections,” says Marshall Glesby, M.D., associate chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. “So it is something to be aware of.”
Here’s what you need to know about RSV, including how to help prevent an infection and how to spot warning signs if you do get sick.
1. Symptoms are hard to separate from other common illnesses
What makes the increase of RSV cases so tricky, especially this time of year and given the pandemic, is that many of its common symptoms overlap with those of the common cold, flu and COVID-19.
A cough, a fever and a runny nose often accompany an RSV infection, the CDC says. Same with wheezing, sneezing and a decrease in appetite. You may even notice a “pinkeye-type of manifestation” or sinus-like issues, Glesby adds. It’s typical for these symptoms to appear in stages, not all at once.
Most adults who get RSV will experience a mild course of these ailments. But in some adults — especially older adults who have weaker immune systems — the illness can turn serious and lead to pneumonia or congestive heart failure. People with asthma and chronic lung disease may also suffer with more severe symptoms that make it difficult to breathe.
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“That means that your lungs and your heart and your circulatory system are sort of overworking,” Stinchfield says. (Likewise, struggling to catch a breath or taking short and shallow, rapid breaths are red flags for severe RSV in babies.)
You should also check in with a doctor if you have significant weakness or your symptoms get worse and won’t go away, Glesby says.
Are you at high risk?
Adults at highest risk for severe RSV infection include:
• Older adults, especially those 65 and older
• Adults with chronic heart or lung disease
• Adults with weakened immune systems
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“The main thing for older adults and parents of young children is to listen to your gut. If your gut is saying, ‘I don't think this is normal, and I’m scared,’ that's when it’s time to call [the doctor],” Stinchfield says.
An NFID report found that although adults with RSV and influenza report similar symptoms, RSV patients don’t seek medical attention as quickly as flu patients.
3. There is no specific treatment for RSV
Unlike with the flu or COVID-19, there isn’t an antiviral treatment available for the majority of adults that can knock out RSV, nor is there a vaccine that can help prevent it, though researchers are working to develop both.
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