RSV sickness from the respiratory syncytial virus is circulating earlier than normal this year.
Here’s what to know about holiday travel.
Experts in This Article
RSV sickness isnt new.
Most adults and older children have been exposed to RSV many times.
Before COVID-19 upended, well, everything, virtually all children became infected with RSV before their second birthday.
So, why are experts so concerned now?
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What is RSV?
RSV is a virus that generally manifests with mild, cold-like symptoms.
Its most noticeable in the very young and very old.
RSV causes inflammation in the lower part of the lungs.
RSV is most dangerous for children born prematurely and those under 6 months old.
RSV is also highly contagious.
Its spread primarily through viral droplets expelled from coughs and sneezes.
So is attending (or visiting) daycare centers or schools.
RSV lives on hard surfaces for many hours.
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It also lives on hands and soft surfaces, like tissues, for 30 minutes or more.
I recommend very frequent hand washing and surface cleaning as the best measures for preventing RSV transmission.
The incubation period for RSV sickness is typically around four to six days.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
If RSV has been around forever, you may be wondering why its sounding alarms right now.
Part of the problem is timing.
RSV season usually starts mid-to-end January and runs through April.
Lack of exposure to viruses over the last few years is thought to have created this log jam.
For children who have spent much of the past two years in quarantine, RSV poses a new threat.
Were not seeing that this year because kids have been living in quarantine.
Now, their bodies are in shock, says Dr. Mony.
While there is no vaccine for RSV, vaccination should still be an important part of your disease-fighting arsenal.
You wont like hearing this, but RSV and flu can occur together in the same patient.
So can RSV and COVID.
When youre eligible for vaccinations and boosters, get them.
This is your best bet for avoiding severe disease and hospitalization, says Dr. Mony.
If youre looking forward to a much-needed vacation, it can be awful to cancel it because youre sick.
However, thats exactly what you should do.
If you must travel, wear a mask and socially distance yourself from others as much as possible.
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