Good for the elderly
When treating adults with RSV, the focus is on providing supportive care, which may include antipyretics, supplementary oxygen, and intravenous fluids as needed. 31 Patients who are older or who have previous respiratory disorders (e.g., asthma, COPD) who are experiencing acute wheezing may benefit from the use of corticosteroids and bronchodilators, either inhaled or systemically.
RSV may survive on hard surfaces for long periods of time. From the time a person is exposed to the RSV until they develop symptoms, it can take anywhere from two to eight days. Symptoms usually persist between three and seven days. The majority of children and adults return to normal in one to two weeks.
Even in children admitted to hospitals with RSV infection, mortality is less than 1 percent, and RSV is responsible for less than 500 deaths each year in the United States. However, this infection has the potential to cause significant death and severe morbidity in a small number of high-risk individuals in specific categories.
Even while you may not be able to lessen the duration of a respiratory syncytial virus infection, you may try to alleviate some of the signs and symptoms of the illness. Other suggestions for alleviating symptoms include:
RSV symptoms are normally moderate in healthy individuals, but the virus can be fatal in older persons and those who have underlying heart or lung issues, among other things. Every year, around 177,000 older persons are admitted to hospitals and 14,000 of them die in the United States alone as a result of a respiratory syncytial virus infection.
RSV can manifest itself in the following ways in adults and older children: congestion or runny nose. The following are more severe RSV symptoms:
The majority of RSV infections resolve on their own after a week or two. There is currently no particular therapy for RSV infection, while researchers are working on developing vaccinations and antivirals to combat the illness (medicines that fight viruses).
When RSV infection attacks the tiny breathing tubes (called bronchioles) in the lungs, it is the most dangerous type of infection. Acute bronchiolitis is the medical term for this illness. Pneumonia, which is an infection of the remainder of the lung, can also be caused by the RSV.
Despite the fact that RSV infection in adults is frequently minor, the consequences of RSV infection can be severe in both healthy people and patients in hospitals. RSV infection can result in considerable morbidity and death in hospitalized patients, with fatality rates reaching as high as 12 percent in some cases.
When it comes to RSV infection, vitamin D offers a unique therapy option that may help to lower lung inflammation and illness severity.
Palivizumab and ribavirin are the only medications presently licensed for the treatment of RSV illness. Palivizumab attaches to a protein found in the virus, producing a protective barrier against the infection. They are unable to infect human cells as a result of this. In contrast, ribavirin, an antiviral drug, inhibits the virus’s ability to reproduce and reproduce itself further.
For children 1 year and older, use 12 to 1 teaspoon (2-5 mL) of honey as needed. It has the same effect as a home-made cough medication. It has the ability to thin mucous and loosen coughing.
Adults over the age of 65 are at increased risk for severe RSV infection. Respiratory syncytial virus, sometimes known as RSV, is a virus that affects the lungs and breathing passages and is quite prevalent. RSV infections can be quite hazardous in some cases. adults.
Even though RSV infection has symptoms that are similar to those of influenza, the symptoms of RSV infection are more severe. These symptoms include nasal congestion, coughing, wheezing, and low-grade fever. Older people with underlying heart and lung illness, as well as immunocompromised individuals, are at the greatest risk of developing pneumonia and dying as a result of RSV infection.
So far, it appears that the new coronavirus is more harmful for adults, particularly those over the age of 65. RSV is more dangerous for small children, but it may also be dangerous for the elderly and individuals who have other health concerns, such as diabetes.