See all our RSV-related advice from our Pediatrician on our youtube channel here: VIDEO
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes acute respiratory tract infections in people of all ages and can cause severe illness in infants and children with certain health conditions. Approximately 58,000-80,000 children under the age of 5 and up to 3% of children in their first year of life are hospitalized due to RSV infection each year in the US. Most children will get an RSV infection before the age of 2 years, and approximately 20-30% of children infected will develop a lower respiratory tract infection, such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Reinfection is common and is usually less severe than the primary infection.
In the US, RSV typically circulates from the fall, peaks in December or January and continues through the spring. It is transmitted by direct or close contact with those infected or from touching contaminated surfaces.