Antibiotics are not routinely used to treat RSV as it is a viral, not bacterial, disease. If, however, your child has more severe symptoms of RSV infection, he or she may need inhaled medications, and may be admitted to hospital. The Flu is also caused by a virus that is common in the winter months. However, unlike RSV, children with the Flu often have a headache, aches and pains in the muscles, vomiting and diarrhea, and some chest discomfort. Children with severe Flu may resemble severe RSV with a decrease in eating and drinking, a high fever, increase slepiness and difficulty breathing.
Flu is treated by providing children with plenty of fluids and rest.
As with RSV, antibiotics are not routinely used to treat flu as it is a viral, not bacterial disease. A person becomes infected with RSV and FLU by coming into close contact with another infected person or with the secretions of that infection person. As noted earlier, during the winter months RSV and Flu are common causes of a cold-like illness in all ages, and infants usually acquire the infection from close contact with older family members or other people with colds. In order to protect younger children and each other from infection, family members with colds should wash their hands before and after handling the baby, and contact with other people with colds should be avoided. Extra precautions should be taken to avoid passing infectious secretions to children by way of toys or other objects.