There has been a spike in RSV cases this fall. Here’s what you should know:

RSV is a common respiratory virus. It usually causes mild cold-like symptoms, but According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, Almost all children have been infected with RSV by the age of two, and the disease affects most people for only about a week.

But here’s the problem. This disease can be serious in some cases. infant When senior citizen.

What happens in severe cases of RSV?

Severe infections can lead to bronchiolitis, inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, and pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. chronic health problems Aggravation of asthma or congestive heart failure. In severe cases, if people become dehydrated or have trouble breathing, hospitalization may be required, but most hospital stays last only a few days.

How many people are affected?

According to the CDC, RSV causes millions of people to see a doctor each year.Also About 58,000 people are hospitalized and 100-300 die. 177,000 people aged 65 and over were hospitalized and 14,000 died.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include runny nose, loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing. According to the CDCSymptoms usually appear in stages rather than all at once. In some cases, doctors say: you may not know You may have RSV or mistake it for a cold or allergies. In very young infants, RSV can cause hypersensitivity, decreased activity, and difficulty breathing, says the CDC..

Why is RSV a concern now?

as the earth reported last weekpediatric hospitalizations are on the rise because of waking up early Respiratory diseases such as RSV, enteroviruses, rhinoviruses.

The surge may be due to the withdrawal of COVID-19 mitigation strategies, doctors say. Masks and distance learning in schools may have saved lives, but they hindered the development of immunity to infectious diseases.

“It’s going to be a bad RSV season…it’s pretty much everywhere at the moment,” says Jack Maypole, Ph.D., clinical associate professor at Boston University School of Medicine and pediatrician at Boston Medical Center. “It seems to arrive quickly and ferociously.”

Normally, “most kids say goodbye to RSV by the age of 2,” but due to COVID-19 restrictions, there is a much larger group of children who haven’t yet encountered RSV, he said.

Some experts warn: Possibility of “Triple Demic” Including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV are looming.

How does RSV spread?

According to the CDC, disease can spread When virus droplets get into the eyes, nose, or mouth when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can also get infected by touching a surface that has the virus on it and touching your face before washing your hands. It can also be transmitted by kissing a baby’s face with her RSV.

How can the spread of RSV be avoided?

If you have cold symptoms, CDC says, Coughs and sneezes should be covered with a tissue or shirt sleeve, not your hands. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Avoid close contact with others. Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices.

People with cold-like symptoms should ideally be “at risk for severe RSV illness, such as premature babies, children under 2 years of age with chronic lung or heart conditions, and children with weakened immune systems.” You should not interact with tall children.” If that’s not possible, the CDC says people should follow steps to prevent the spread of the disease, such as washing their hands before interacting with children and not kissing them.

CDC also recommends taking “special precautions” to protect older people from RSV. Follow similar steps.

What is the treatment?

Researchers are working on vaccines and antiviral drugs, but so far there is no specific treatment for RSV. , is not therapeutic.)

However, symptoms can be managed. The CDC recommends taking over-the-counter fever and pain relievers and drinking plenty of fluids. The CDC also suggests that parents consult with their health care provider before giving their children over-the-counter cold remedies. Never give aspirin to children because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome.)

Globe staff member Jessica Bartlett contributed to this report.

To contact Martin Finucane: [email protected].