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Anyone can be infected by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)1
Learn which patients are at risk and uncover the importance of RSV prevention.
MORE ABOUT RSV IN OLDER ADULTSLoadingMORE ABOUT RSV IN INFANTSLoadingMORE ABOUT RSV IN ADULTSLoadingMORE ABOUT RSV IN INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDRENLoading
Signs and Symptoms of RSV Loading
Why Is RSV Hard to Identify? Loading
Who Is at Higher Risk?
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RSV Prevention Loading
UNCOVER RSV
RSV TYPICALLY BEGINS WITH COMMON SYMPTOMS OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION BUT CAN PROGRESS TO LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION.2,3
SYMPTOMS OF RSV CAN RANGE FROM MILD COLD-LIKE
SYMPTOMS TO SEVERE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS.4-7 SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE:
Nasal Congestion2,3
Rhinorrhea3
Cough2,3
Wheezing1
IN INFANTS,
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
MAY INCLUDE4,7,8
Bronchiolitis4
Pneumonia7
Croup7
Apnea8
Upper respiratory tract infection7
IN SOME OLDER ADULTS,
RSV MAY PROGRESS TO SEVERE COMPLICATIONS THAT RESULT IN9,10*
Respiratory failure10
Prolonged hospitalization10
High mortality10
IN OLDER ADULTS,
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
MAY INCLUDE2,3,5,11
Upper respiratory tract infection2,3
Exacerbation of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic heart failure5
Pneumonia11
*While the study design was for adults 18 years and older, the mean age at time of diagnosis was 75.1 years in the RSV group and 74.7 years in the influenza group.
WHY IS RSV HARD TO IDENTIFY?
RSV IS A VIRAL RESPIRATORY THREAT THAT CAN BE EASILY MISTAKEN FOR INFLUENZA1
THE SYMPTOMS OF RSV AND INFLUENZA ARE STRIKINGLY SIMILAR, SO DISTINGUISHING THEM ON CLINICAL PRESENTATION ALONE IS VERY DIFFICULT.1
LIKE INFLUENZA, RSV IS AN RNA VIRUS THAT IS12:
HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS2,13
RSV is spread through close contact with infected individuals
SEASONAL4,14
RSV incidence tends to overlap with influenza season, typically occurring between late fall and early spring in the US
FOR SOME PEOPLE, RSV CAN BE JUST AS SERIOUS AS INFLUENZA5,15-18IN INFANTS16,17†
RSV has exhibited higher mortality rates than influenza in infants16
In a study from Washington State, the incidence of RSV in infants seen at outpatient clinics was 7x higher than that of influenza17
IN SOME ADULTS WITH CERTAIN RISK FACTORS5
Among adults who are immunocompromised or have an underlying condition like COPD or CHF, RSV has been associated with medical resource utilization similar to that of influenza5
IN ADULTS 60 YEARS AND OLDER18
Older adults hospitalized for RSV had longer hospital stays (≥7 days) and worse 1-year survival rates compared with patients with influenza18
†Infants defined as 1 year and younger.16,17
WHO IS AT HIGHER RISK?
SOME PEOPLE ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR SEVERE RSV AND MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES19,20
PREMATURE INFANTS AND
THOSE 6 MONTHS AND YOUNGER19
CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN
2 YEARS WITH CHRONIC
MEDICAL CONDITIONS19
OLDER ADULTS20
THOSE LIVING IN NURSING HOMES
OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES20
THOSE WITH AN
IMMUNODEFICIENCY OR CHRONIC
HEART OR LUNG DISEASE19,20
THOSE WITH CERTAIN OTHER
UNDERLYING CONDITIONS19,20
UNCOVER MORE ABOUT RSV IN OLDER ADULTS.
TAKE THIS QUIZ TO FIND OUTLoadingUNCOVER MORE ABOUT RSV IN INFANTS.
TAKE THIS QUIZ TO FIND OUTLoading
RSV IS A VIRUS THAT EXPOSES SOME TO POTENTIALLY
SERIOUS OUTCOMES1-3,5
HEAR REAL PEOPLE SHARE HOW RSV HAS AFFECTED THEIR LIVES
More about RSV in
OLDER adultsLoadingMore about RSV in infantsLoadingLearn about an rsv vaccine option todayLoading
References: 1. Talbot HK, Belongia EA, Walsh EE, Schaffner W. Respiratory syncytial virus in older adults: a hidden annual epidemic. Infect Dis Clin Pract. 2016;24(6):295-302. 2. Walsh EE, Hall CB. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2015:1948-1960. 3. Carvajal JJ, Avellaneda AM, Salazar-Ardiles C, Maya JE, Kalergis AM, Lay MK. Host components contributing to respiratory syncytial virus pathogenesis. Front Immunol. 2019;10:2152. 4. Meissner HC. Viral bronchiolitis in children. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(1):62-72. 5. Hartnett J, Donga P, Ispas G, et al. Risk factors and medical resource utilization in US adults hospitalized with influenza or respiratory syncytial virus in the Hospitalized Acute Respiratory Tract Infection study. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2022;16(5):906-915. 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV): symptoms and care. Updated September 6, 2023. Accessed September 11, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html 7. Hall CB. Respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus. N Engl J Med. 2001;344(25):1917-1928. 8. Eiland LS. Respiratory syncytial virus: diagnosis, treatment and prevention. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2009;14(2):75-85. 9. Falsey AR, Hennessey PA, Formica MA, Cox C, Walsh EE. Respiratory syncytial virus infection in elderly and high-risk adults. N Engl J Med. 2005;352(17):1749-1759. 10.Lee N, Lui GCY, Wong KT, et al. High morbidity and mortality in adults hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus infections. Clin Infect Dis. 2013;57:1069-1077. 11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV): RSV in older adults and adults with chronic medical conditions. Updated July 14, 2023. Accessed September 7, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html 12. DrysdaleSB, Barr RS, Rollier CS, Green CA, Pollard AJ, Sande CJ. Priorities for developing respiratory syncytial virus vaccines in different target populations. Sci Transl Med. 2020;12(535):eaax2466. 13. Bhat R, Farrag MA, Almajhdi FN. Double-edged role of natural killer cells during RSV infection. Int Rev Immunol. 2020;39(5):233-244. 14. Belongia EA, King JP, Kieke BA, et al. Clinical features, severity, and incidence of RSV illness during 12 consecutive seasons in a community cohort of adults ≥60 years old. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018;5(12):ofy316. 15. Zhou H, Thompson WW, Viboud CG, et al. Hospitalizations associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the United States, 1993-2008. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;54(10):1427-1436. 16. Hansen CL, Chaves SS, Demont C, Viboud C. Mortality associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the US, 1999-2018. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2):e220527. 17. Jackson ML, Scott E, Kupers J, Nalla AK, Roychoudury P, Chu HY. Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus across five influenza seasons among adults and children one year of age and older – Washington State, 2011/2012-2015/2016. J Infect Dis. 2021;223(1):147-156. 18. Ackerson B, Tseng HF, Sy LS, et al. Severe morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory syncytial virus versus influenza infection in hospitalized older adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2019;69(2):197-203. 19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV): RSV in infants and young children. Updated August 4, 2023. Accessed September 7, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html