Most people, especially parents and grandparents, are familiar with RSV as a childhood illness. That's because almost all kids get sick with it before they turn 2. But RSV causes the most severe disease for folks at both ends of the age spectrum.
Here's how RSV affects adults ages 65 and older each year:
- Up to 1.9 million doctor visits
- 60,000 to 160,000 hospitalizations
- 6,000 to 10,000 deaths
Most adults who get RSV won't die from it or need supportive treatment at the hospital. But it's hard to predict how an aging immune system will react to the virus, so it's important to know what signs and symptoms to watch for and what to do in case of emergency.
"Don't wait it out. You need to seek care so we can get the appropriate diagnosis."
Khalilah L. Gates, MD
Typically, RSV causes a mild cough, fever, and sore throat for around 3 to 5 days up to 2 weeks. You should go to the doctor right away if during that time period you get shortness of breath, Gates says, or your symptoms get worse in a way that seems out of the ordinary for you.
Since RSV causes symptoms that are similar to those of other upper respiratory illnesses, like cold, flu, and COVID-19, you may not be able to tell what kind of infection you have based on symptoms alone. You'll need a medical provider to test you for it.
"Don't wait it out," Gates says. "You need to seek care so we can get the appropriate diagnosis. There are many things we can do to support you through it, even in the case of severe disease."