Illness begins most frequently with fever, runny nose, cough, and sometimes wheezing.
Most children recover from illness in 8 to 15 days. The majority of children hospitalized for RSV infection are under 6 months of age. Infection can occur when infectious material contacts mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, or nose, and possibly through the inhalation of droplets generated by a sneeze or cough. In temperate climates, RSV infections usually occur during annual community outbreaks, often lasting 4 to 6 months, during the late fall, winter, or early spring months. The timing and severity of outbreaks in a community vary from year to year.