RSV comes up a lot in winter, especially around babies, grandparents, childcare, schools and aged care.
Most people know RSV is something to avoid, but many are less sure about what it actually is.
Is it a cold? Is it contagious? How do you catch it? Who is most at risk? And now that RSV vaccines are being discussed more often, who can get one?
What This Article Covers
What Is RSV?
RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. It’s a common virus that affects the nose, throat, lungs and airways.
It was first identified in the 1950s, but it has likely been making people cough and sniffle for much, much longer than that.
Did you know? Almost everyone catches RSV at least once in childhood or their teens. The interesting part is that catching it does not give lifelong protection, which means people can get RSV again as adults.
For many healthy adults, RSV may feel like a cold. You might have a runny nose, cough, sore throat and tiredness, then recover without ever knowing RSV was the cause.
That is partly why RSV spreads so easily. It is not always obvious.
In Australia, RSV tends to increase during autumn and winter. Most cases are mild, but it can become more serious for babies, older adults and people with certain medical conditions.
How Do You Catch RSV?
Easily. RSV is contagious and spreads in very ordinary ways.
Someone coughs near you. A child wipes their nose, touches a toy, and another child picks it up. A grandparent cuddles a sick toddler. Someone touches a door handle, then rubs their eyes or nose.
The virus can spread through droplets in the air and from contaminated surfaces. It can also move quickly through households because people may be infectious before they realise they are unwell.
This is why RSV often turns up in families, childcare centres, schools, workplaces and aged care settings during winter.
RSV Symptoms
RSV often starts like a regular cold.
Common symptoms include:
- runny or blocked nose
- cough
- sore throat
- fever
- tiredness
- reduced appetite
Things most of us are pretty familiar with.
In babies and young children, RSV can sometimes cause faster breathing, wheezing, trouble feeding, unusual sleepiness or irritability.
In older adults, it can worsen breathing problems or trigger complications such as pneumonia, especially for people with heart or lung conditions.
You can find more information by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing here.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Most people recover from RSV at home, but some groups need to be more careful.
This includes babies, young children, adults aged 75 years and over, people with chronic heart or lung disease, and people with weakened immune systems.
For these groups, RSV is more likely to move beyond an annoying cough and become something that affects breathing, feeding, hydration or overall strength.
Is There an RSV Vaccine?
Yes. RSV vaccines are now available in Australia for eligible adults.
The RSV vaccine is currently free for Australians aged 75 years and over through the National Immunisation Program. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 60 years and over are also eligible for a free RSV vaccine.
You can book an RSV vaccine here.
Morningside General Practice Clinic can also help eligible patients understand RSV vaccine availability and whether vaccination is suitable for them.
There are also RSV protection programs for some infants and pregnant women, depending on current recommendations and eligibility.
What If You Catch RSV?
For many people, RSV care looks similar to managing a bad cold.
Rest, fluids, warm drinks, and simple comfort measures can help. Some people still swear by warm lemon and honey or hot chicken soup, and while these do not “cure” RSV, they can soothe a sore throat and make recovery feel a little easier.
Medical advice is important if breathing becomes difficult, symptoms are getting worse rather than settling, a baby is not feeding well, or an older person seems unusually weak, confused or short of breath.
A Practical Winter Reminder
RSV is common, contagious and often mild, but it is worth understanding because it does not affect everyone the same way.
If you are unsure whether symptoms are RSV, flu, COVID or something else, or you would like to ask about the RSV vaccine, the doctors at Morningside General Practice Clinic can help guide the next step.
MGPC welcomes patients to book an appointment for RSV advice, winter illness support or vaccine availability.
