The symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) typically appear about 4 to 6 days after exposure. For most people, RSV causes mild, cold-like symptoms such as:
- Congested or runny nose
- Dry cough
- Low-grade fever
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Decrease in appetite
In infants and young children, symptoms may also include irritability, poor feeding, and breathing difficulties such as wheezing, rapid or troubled breathing, and chest retractions. Severe cases can involve fever, severe cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and bluish coloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen. For very young infants, additional signs of severe RSV infection include short, shallow, and rapid breathing, struggling to breathe, lethargy, and irritability. RSV can lead to more serious respiratory illnesses like bronchiolitis or pneumonia, especially in infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms in such severe cases may worsen and require medical attention. Overall, most people recover from RSV within one to two weeks, though infants and high-risk groups can experience more severe symptoms and complications requiring hospitalization.
