A highly contagious seasonal virus impacting infants and the elderly has arrived a bit earlier than usual. 

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is worrying healthcare professionals because it is hitting the U.S. at the same time they are worried about the flu and COVID-19. 

Mara Bessine is an advanced practice registered nurse for OSF HealthCare and she says that there have been more than 125 cases of RSV in OSF clinics in the past month. She believes it is from people resuming in-person gatherings. 

RSV typically runs its course in the later fall months and into the winter, and usually produces symptoms of a common cold: stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, headache, cough and sometimes fever. 

Bessine says that RSV can be more serious in children under 2 years of age. 

Bessine recommends saline drops to remove sticky nasal fluids, a cool-mist vaporizer to keep the air moist, and to provide fluids in small amounts frequently throughout the day. You can also give non-asprin fever-reducers such as acetaminophen.

She says that she has seen a few babies and children with both COVID-19 and RSV. 

There is no vaccine or easy treatment for RSV. Bessine says that it’s really important for anyone with RSV to stay hydrated. 

Those infected with RSV are usually contagious for three to eight days but some can be contagious up to four weeks. To limit risk, parents can limit their kids’ time at child care centers or gatherings with large number of children.