As COVID-19 restrictions began to lift over the past few months, there has been news about a new viral acronym: RSV. RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, which is the official name for a contagious, common respiratory virus that attacks the cells of the lungs and gives people unpleasant symptoms of the common cold – runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache, and altered eating and drinking [1,2] (CDC, Mayo clinic). While this type of common virus* tends to crop up in winter, RSV has made an unexpected name for itself in the summer.
Why is this happening? As mask guidelines have been lifted in some regions, the protective barriers that have prevented the spread of all contagious viruses from COVID to the common cold have disappeared. RSV, which also spreads from mouth droplets, has therefore been able to make an early resurgence.
This year, unlike pre-pandemic years without widespread mask usage and distancing measures, RSV cases have been higher in August 2021 than in January 2021. Throughout the entire pandemic, there were low double-digit case values for RSV. However, this summer, there are quadruple digits. According to the CDC, there were around 20 cases in January, yet in August, RSV reached around 3000 cases. Here are the cases reported by the CDC month-by-month within the past few years [3] (CDC values). This is earlier in the year than in a typical year, where quadruple digits are only present during the colder months.
While recent history may make you worried about a new virus making the news, RSV is not a new cause for concern. Contracting the virus normally leaves adults feeling crummy for at most two weeks with no long term consequences. However, like any virus, it is important to remember that young children and people who are immunocompromised are vulnerable to serious complications that may require hospitalization. RSV is a common concern for parents of young children, as bronchiolitis and pneumonia can develop in children under one, especially since childrens’ immune systems are still developing [4][5](CDC, webmd).
If you think you have RSV, the only treatment is rest and fluids, like a common cold. As we mentioned here, you can’t treat viruses with antibiotics. Only people who have severe infections will require treatment in a hospital.
As society progressively returns to pre-pandemic measures, we will see a surge of viruses like RSV. This indicates a return to the level of viral infections we saw before the pandemic, and is not a current cause of concern. It also illustrates the effectiveness of the mask, distancing, and staying home when sick. These are some basic measures that we as a society should consider using to protect those around us whenever we feel sick long after the pandemic’s end.
*Virus - it can be considered a very small and basic life form or an aggregate of molecules that is simpler than a cell. They can be found in the environment or inside living organisms. It has to infect a cell and use its machinery to multiply, since it cannot multiply by itself. Viruses consist of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), a protein capsid that contains the nucleic acids and, sometimes, an external envelope of lipids. The flu, measles, AIDS and Covid-19, for instance, are caused by viruses.
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Written by: Dominique
Edited by: María and Natasha
BioDecoded is a volunteer group committed to sharing accurate scientific information. We cannot offer any specific health advice. If you have any doubts about having a disease, please speak with your healthcare professional or family physician. Your doctor can revise your medical history and advise you on the best path to follow. If you have any questions about this topic, please comment or send them to our email.
References:
Learn about Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html (Accessed: 24th September 2021)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic (2021). Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353098 (Accessed: 24th September 2021)
RSV Numerator Data for the US. Cdc.gov (2021). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/surveillance/nrevss/images/trend_images/RSV14Num_Nat.htm (Accessed: 24th September 2021)
Learn about RSV in Infants and Young Children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html (Accessed: 24th September 2021)
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). WebMD (2021). Available at: https://www.webmd.com/lung/rsv-in-babies (Accessed: 24th September 2021)
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