RSV isn't as serious a health concern for school-age children and adults because their immune systems are stronger. Adults and older children will simply get an upper respiratory infection characterized by a sore throat or cough. Add your comments to the bottom of this page. She may decide to run a test to check for RSV by sending a mucus sample from your baby's nose or upper respiratory tract to a special lab. But most doctors rarely perform this test since there are no specific medical interventions for RSV infections themselves.
Doctors can treat only the secondary infections that result from the virus, such as pneumonia.
Outbreaks of RSV are usually during peak cold season, between October and March. Doctors suspect that recent outbreaks are due to the rising number of babies under 6 months old in daycare. In fact, the CDC says that almost 100 percent of children that age in childcare will get an RSV infection in the first year of life because RSV spreads so easily from child to child. Offer your baby plenty of fluids to keep him well hydrated. If he's breastfeeding, nurse him as often as he'll eat.