Talking to Your Doctor About RSV

Talking to Your Doctor About RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus (sin-SISH-shul VI-rus) (RSV) is a very common virus. RSV causes moderate-to-severe cold symptoms in adults and children. However, in high-risk children, like premature infants or babies born with certain heart problems or who have chronic lung disease, RSV can become very serious. In fact, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for children under 1 year of age. And severe RSV infections may increase the risk of wheezing and asthma-like illness through childhood.

If your baby is at high risk for severe RSV disease, there may be protective steps you and your doctor can take. Our Guide for Talking to Your Doctor About RSV can help you discuss RSV with your doctor and get your questions answered.

Download guide now (PDF format)

A baby in the following risk categories could be at high risk to develop severe RSV disease if he or she:

Was born early at less than 36 weeks ^1-2
Was born with certain heart problems or has chronic lung disease ^2-3

Additional risk factors for premature infants may include:

Being in daycare or spending more than 4 hours per week with
other children ^1,4-7
Having school-age siblings ^1,4,8-10
Young chronological age (12 weeks of age or younger at the beginning of RSV season) ^4,9-11
Living with 4 or more family members ^5,8-9,12-13
Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke or other air pollutants ^1,4,10,14-16
Low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds) ^17-20
Family history of wheezing or asthma ^8-9,21-22
Being a twin, triplet or other multiple ^17,23
Severe neuromuscular disease ²⁴
Born with abnormal airways ¹

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