Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes mild illness in most children and adults. However, pneumonia can be serious, requiring treatment and sometimes hospitalization. Rarely, for people at high risk, pneumonia can be fatal.

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RSV causes a viral infection that most people come in contact with before age 2. For some infants, older adults, and people with certain health conditions, an RSV infection can become severe and lead to other health conditions, like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Here’s what you need to know about pneumonia caused by RSV, who’s at risk, and what treatments may help.

RSV pneumonia is pneumonia that results from an RSV infection.

RSV is a respiratory virus. It typically stays confined to the upper airways. In certain situations, though, it can move into the lungs. While rare, this is when RSV-related pneumonia may develop.

Pneumonia is a lung infection. When a person has pneumonia, the air sacs in their lungs fill with fluid and pus. This extra strain can make breathing difficult and lead to other symptoms.

Symptoms of RSV may be as mild as a runny nose and sore throat. When pneumonia develops, you may notice symptoms that happen slowly or suddenly.

Symptoms may include:

Newborns may not show obvious signs of pneumonia. Young children may experience nausea and vomiting with pneumonia, while older adults may feel confused or have trouble thinking.

Research suggests that having a severe form of RSV may make certain people vulnerable to a secondary bacterial infection.

One of the earliest symptoms of serious illness with RSV is a barking cough or wheezing. When this happens, it means that the infection has moved to the lungs.

When infection and inflammation take hold in the small airways into the lungs, it can result in bacterial pneumonia.

Diagnosis of RSV pneumonia starts with a physical exam. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and how long you have had them.

Tests to diagnose RSV pneumonia include the following:

  • Chest X-ray: Chest X-rays allow doctors to see any lung inflammation.
  • Blood tests: A complete blood count can help your doctor see if your body is dealing with an infection.
  • Pulse oximetry: Pulse oximetry measures the level of oxygen in your blood. It’s a small sensor that attaches to either your ear or finger.
  • PCR test: PCR tests can test saliva and other genetic material samples for the presence of RSV and other respiratory viruses.

There are various other tests your doctor may perform depending on the severity of your symptoms and your medical history.

RSV itself is a virus. It tends to clear up for most people within 1 to 2 weeks with no specific treatment. Since RSV-related pneumonia is usually bacterial pneumonia, it can be treated with antibiotics that your doctor prescribes.

Other treatments may include:

  • taking over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers
  • staying hydrated by drinking water and other fluids
  • resting to allow the body to heal
  • using comfort measures, like adding moisture to the air with a humidifier to help open your airways

Some people may need care in a hospital setting. For example, this is the case for 1 to 2 out of every 100 children under 6 months old.

Hospitalization may include:

People at the highest risk for serious illness, like pneumonia, related to RSV include:

The outlook for somebody with RSV pneumonia depends on several factors. A person may need to be hospitalized for specialized care in severe cases. Even if a person is hospitalized, it’s usually only for a few days.

Some people recover from pneumonia quickly — in as little as a week. For others, it may take a couple of months to return to their typical health.

Complications of pneumonia include:

While RSV and pneumonia can co-occur, they result from different infections and cause different symptoms.

Infection with RSV virus typically affects the upper respiratory system, such as the throat and sinuses – and symptoms are often mild. However, an RSV infection can progress into lung tissue and cause more serious illnesses, such as pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a swelling in the lung’s air sacs, also known as alveoli, resulting from a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. Pneumonia symptoms may be mild, but it can also cause severe nausea, fever, and breathing difficulties.

Is there a vaccine for RSV?

Yes. Vaccines are available for children, adults over 60, and pregnant people between 32–36 weeks.

How often does RSV result in hospitalization?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 58,000 to 80,000 children under age 5 and 60,000 to 160,000 adults over age 65 are hospitalized with severe RSV each year.

When is RSV season?

The exact season is different each year. The usual onset of RSV season is between mid-September and mid-November. It typically lasts until between mid-April and mid-May.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have concerns about a respiratory illness. It can be difficult to tell if RSV has moved to the lungs by symptoms alone. Your doctor can perform the necessary tests to diagnose pneumonia and prescribe medications and other treatments so you’ll feel better.

If you have any of the following symptoms, like trouble breathing, nasal flaring, or blue-tinted lips or fingertips, contact your doctor or head to the emergency room. Pay close attention to your symptoms, especially if you have risk factors for severe infection.