The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is generally highlighted in the media as a threat mostly to infants less than six months old, some younger children, and older adults between 60-74 years, particularly those with existing medical conditions, as well as all adults who are 75 years and older. This is due to the fact that these demographic groups stand the highest risk of acquiring severe forms of RSV, which could lead to hospitalization, pneumonia, or complications of previously existing conditions like heart disease and asthma.
However, it’s important to note that RSV can affect adults who fall outside these age ranges, too. According to Dr. Waleed Javaid, an infectious diseases specialist and director of Infection Prevention and Control at Mount Sinai hospitals in New York City, RSV in younger, healthy adults is usually a very mild illness akin to a common cold, which may be a reason why it’s often underreported. Extreme illnesses due to RSV could occur in individuals who are immune-compromised, but such cases are uncommon in healthy adults.
Even though a regular, healthy adult may not be critically concerned with keeping a close eye on seasonal RSV trends or fearful of hospitalization if they contract the virus, simple preventative measures are still recommended to guard against RSV. After all, even a mild illness is still an illness that is best avoided.
RSV in otherwise healthy adults bears many similarities with the common cold, according to Dr. Diana Finkel, an infectious disease physician and director of the Infectious Disease Fellowship Program at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Since the virus closely mimics the symptoms of the common cold, healthy adults who are infected with RSV may not even be aware they’ve contracted it.
RSV symptoms in adults include fever, runny nose, muscle pain, coughing, sneezing and slight respiratory discomfort. These symptoms typically manifest four to six days after exposure to the virus and last for approximately a week. It is advised that individuals seek medical attention if symptoms don’t improve or if breathing becomes difficult, irrespective of the age group they belong to.
Certain individuals between 18 to 60 years of age should exercise extreme caution if they contract RSV. These include individuals with comorbidities like diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease, as well as pregnant individuals. The U.S. CDC recommends immunization in all adults older than 75, and adults 60 to 74 who have comorbidities that increase the chances of severe RSV.
Regardless of the virality of the disease, whether it’s RSV, flu, or COVID, it is critical for everyone to undertake protective measures, stresses Dr. Javaid. Steps like washing hands frequently, avoiding contact with those displaying cold-like symptoms, wearing a mask when in contact with ill individuals, and cleaning surfaces remain some of the best protective measures. These steps should also ideally be implemented by an infected person to prevent the spread of the virus to others.
While a healthy adult may not need to worry excessively about RSV, Dr. Finkel advises caution, especially for those with older family members and young children in their care. Ultimately, staying as healthy as possible to protect oneself and those around them remains paramount.
Source: https://www.allure.com/story/everything-the-average-adult-needs-to-know-about-rsv