What are the symptoms of RSV?

Across Canada, cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection are increasing, especially among children.

RSV is a very common virus that causes respiratory infections in an individual, according to the National Cooperative Center for Infectious Diseases, a Winnipeg-based organization.

Doctors have sounded the alarm about the rise in cases in the United States, and authorities north of the border are also seeing an increase in cases. Public Health Canada said in its latest respiratory virus detection report that there has been a steady increase in positive RSV cases since early September.

The report, which provides data for the week ending October 15, says the number of cases is “above expected levels for this time of year” and that so far 486 cases have been detected and a positive rate of 3.5%.

The biggest increase was in Quebec, where weekly positivity rates were hovering around 13% and indicating that the province was in the midst of a major RSV season that could not yet start, according to information from The Canadian Press.

Parents raised concerns with CTVNews.ca about the spread of the virus, saying they are concerned about the vulnerability of their children as health restrictions are reduced in schools.

And the rise in RSV cases at a time when hospitals across the country are facing great strain, emergency room closures and staff shortages is adding an extra layer of pressure on anxious parents.

In addition, some hospitals have reported a large influx of RSV-related admissions. Staff at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), a children’s hospital in Ottawa, said at a press conference Wednesday that admissions for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for the month of October are currently 10 times higher than the historical pre-pandemic average, which is three cases only.

“What we are seeing currently in terms of RSV in CHEO also reflects what is happening in Ontario and south of the border. We are seeing a significant increase in the number of RSV cases and a significant increase in hospitalizations,” Dr. Chuck Hoy, chief of infectious diseases, immunology and allergy at CHEO, said at the press conference. From RSV”.

So what is RSV and what kind of effect can it have on the body? Here’s what you need to know.

What is RSV?

According to the National Collaborating Center for Infectious Diseases, RSV is a common respiratory virus characterized by single-stranded RNA.

There are annual outbreaks of the disease that causes respiratory infections, usually from late fall to early spring, according to the PHAC Disease Information Bulletin. RSV is also the most common cause of lower respiratory infection in young children worldwide, says RSV.

“As with all respiratory viruses, it disproportionately affects children, especially children under the age of two,” Hoy said.

What are the symptoms of RSV?

According to the National Collaboration Center, people infected with RSV develop symptoms about four to six days after infection.

The center says on its website that a person typically experiences cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing, as well as a decreased appetite.

For certain symptoms in children, he adds, the infant may appear excessively irritable and less active, and have trouble breathing.

How is RSV transmitted?

RSV is transmitted through direct contact with “infectious secretions” via large objects or aerosols, according to the National Collaboration Center.

This means that when someone coughs or sneezes and the virus enters the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth, the respiratory syncytial virus can spread. It can also be spread by touching a surface with RSV droplets and then touching the face, as the RSV virus can survive for hours on surfaces, according to the center.

People are usually most contagious in the first week after infection, but those with weakened immune systems or children can remain contagious for weeks, the center warns.

What health outcomes can occur after infection with RSV?

While many RSV infections lead to mild “simple colds”, the virus can also have severe consequences, including bronchiolitis or pneumonia that can lead to hospitalization, especially in children under the age of two. According to the Primary Health Care Center.

He said any underlying health condition such as premature birth, chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease can make a person more likely to develop severe consequences if they contract RSV.

According to the National Collaborating Center, the type of infections that RSV can produce range from lower respiratory infections to upper respiratory infections.

“RSV infection usually begins with upper respiratory disease that tends to progress to lower respiratory disease in 50% of cases,” the center says on its website.

Most infections clear up on their own within one to two weeks. However, infants and people over 65 are most likely to develop more serious infections, and in some cases ear infections can occur as well, the center says.

“Respiratory syncytial virus can also exacerbate chronic health conditions such as asthma or heart and lung disease, such that a person may have asthma attacks as a result of a respiratory syncytial virus infection,” he says.

Most of the time, people are fairly resistant to RSV, Hoy said at the CHEO press conference, but they may need to be hospitalized to support their breathing, or they may need fluids.

Is there a vaccine and how can I treat the virus?

Public Health Canada states on its website that there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for RSV.

However, researchers are working to develop vaccines and antiviral treatments, according to the National Collaborating Center for Infectious Diseases.

“We hope to have a vaccine in the fairly near future,” Hoy said. He added that a “comprehensive range” of approaches could be used to treat respiratory syncytial virus, including getting a flu shot, getting a COVID-19 shot, and staying home when sick.

Hoy said public health units recommend wearing masks indoors because they can help prevent and reduce all types of viruses, including RSV.

Hospital care is needed if the elderly or infants under six months of age have difficulty breathing or are dehydrated, and if oxygen is needed.

The center says on its website that washing your hands often, cleaning contact points and frequent surfaces, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact will help limit the spread of the virus.

“Steps can be taken to relieve symptoms associated with RSV infection, such as managing fever and pain with fever reducers and over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen,” the center says on its website. However, he adds, do not give children aspirin.

Concerns about the current shortage of children’s Tylenol and pain relievers in general during the rise in RSV cases are also worrying parents.

RSV is highly contagious in a way similar to COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, Dr. Donald Finh, an infectious disease specialist at McGill University in Montreal, told CTVNews.ca Monday.

“We’re seeing a return to what it was before the pandemic with these respiratory viruses, except it’s not just the pre-pandemic respiratory viruses – adding to that mix now there’s also COVID,” he said.