Frequently Asked Questions about RSV

What is the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus around the world and usually causes a mild illness with cold-like symptoms. RSV follows an annual seasonal pattern. In Canada, a wave of increased activity (an epidemic) usually occurs from the fall to the early spring.

What are the symptoms of RSV?

Symptoms often begin 2 to 8 days after exposure to RSV. Symptoms may include:

• Runny nose
• Decrease in appetite
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Wheezing

People with RSV tend to show symptoms in stages, not all at once and generally, RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two. Utilize pain relievers and fever reducers to manage symptoms and be sure to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. There is no specific treatment for RSV but researchers are working to develop a vaccine.

RSV for Young Infants

RSV is very common among children and most children will have been exposed to RSV in their early years. For most children, RSV causes cold-like symptoms, including cough and runny nose, but it can lead to serious problems including pneumonia or bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways of the lungs.

YOU SHOULD CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU NOTICE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS:

• A wheezing or high-pitched whistling noise when they breathe
• Trouble breathing or pauses in breaths
• A cough
• Being unusually upset or inactive
• Refusing to breastfeed or bottle-feed
• Dehydration: Lack of tears when crying, little to no urine after 6 hours, and cool, dry skin
• If your baby is very tired, breathes rapidly, or has a blue tint to their lips or fingernails, call 911 or go to the ER immediately.

How is RSV Transmitted:

RSV is very contagious. It can spread from one person to another by:

• being in close contact when an infected individual coughs or sneezes and the respiratory particles enter your body through your nose, eyes or mouth
• touching a surface that has the virus on it, such as a door handle, toy or furniture, and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands

Those who have the RSV virus are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days, though infants and those with weak immune systems can remain contagious for as long as 4 weeks, even after they have stopped showing symptoms.

How to help prevent RSV:

To help prevent RSV, follow many of the same steps you use to help protect you and your family from Cold and Flu.

• Wash your hands often and for 20 seconds with soap and hot water.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or your sleeve, not your hands.
• Avoid close contact, kissing, shaking hands, sharing cups or utensils with others.
• Disinfect contaminated and commonly used surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, remotes.
  
  Both Lysol® Disinfectant Spray and Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes kill the Respiratory Syncytial Virus.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.

Which products are likely to kill RSV, when used as directed?

As shared by Health Canada, here is a list of Lysol products that are approved for use to disinfect expected to kill the Respiratory syncytial virus: