Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Respiratory syncytial virus or RSV is a common virus that infects the airways and lungs. It spreads easily by coughing and sneezing. Symptoms of RSV include runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever and reduced appetite. It can also make breathing difficult and cause wheezing.

RSV easily spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks sending respiratory droplets containing the virus into the air. These droplets can end up in other people’s eyes, nose or mouths where they can cause infection. The droplets can also land on objects, such as door handles, surfaces or toys, where other people can touch them and then transfer the virus to their eyes nose or mouths.

It can also spread through hand-to-hand contact with an infected person.

RSV infections are often mild with symptoms similar to a common cold.  RSV is one of the most frequent causes of coughs, colds, and earaches, but the illness can worsen quickly, in as little as 2 to 3 days after infection. 

Symptoms include:

• fever
• runny nose
• headache
• sneezing
• coughing
• wheezing.

How serious is RSV for babies and young children?

In infants and children, RSV infection may cause difficulty breathing, and the infection may progress to more serious respiratory infections such as:

• bronchiolitis (chest infection)
• pneumonia (lung infection)
• croup (voice box and wind pipe infection).

RSV infection can also increase the risk of longer-term breathing problems like childhood asthma. RSV can be diagnosed by a PCR test (nose or throat swab) or a blood test.

RSV is very common and more than half of all babies will get infected before their first birthday. In Australia, RSV infection is the most common reason babies are hospitalised in their first year of life and every year in WA, about 1 in every 30 babies are hospitalised with RSV.

RSV infections can affect people of all ages and are usually mild.

Babies aged less than 6 months of age are at highest risk for severe illness. Babies and young children with pre-existing medical conditions are at higher risk of becoming unwell with RSV infections and may require admission to hospital. RSV infections can also trigger symptoms in children with asthma.

People with health conditions that lower their immunity, adults aged 65 years and older, and Aboriginal people also have a higher risk of serious illness.

Yes. Antibodies targeting the virus can help prevent your baby from becoming ill if they are exposed to RSV. Your baby can get these RSV protective antibodies in one of two ways.

Option A – Abrysvo:The maternal RSV vaccine is available for free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for pregnant women between 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy.

Option B – Beyfortus: If the mother did not get an Abrysvo vaccination while pregnant, babies can receive an RSV immunisation medicine called Beyfortus. This immunisation will be available from 1 April.

Click here for more information on the 2025 WA RSV Infant and Maternal I immunisation Program.

RSV infections can be prevented by:

• Practicing good hand hygiene by regularly washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitiser
• Practicing good personal hygiene which includes covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, wearing a mask when leaving the home and avoiding close contact with others.
• Keeping infected people away from others until they recover, particularly those at higher risk (babies, infants, children and older adults)
• Cleaning surfaces and items that may be contaminated with a detergent that can kill viruses.

Mild RSV infections can be treated with rest, drinking lots of water and taking simple over the counter pain medication, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, if needed.

People with more serious RSV infections may require hospitalisation.

Antibiotics will not help against RSV infection unless there is a secondary bacterial infection present.