RSV Risks Rise for Infants, Older Adults As Cold Season Begins

It's that time of year again: the dreaded cold and flu season is on the horizon. But lurking in the shadows is a more sinister threat: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Cases begin to rise in September and peak during the winter months.

Often dismissed as just another common cold, RSV can be deadly, especially for infants and older adults. But how much do you really know about RSV?

Hannah and her twin brother Nolan ended up in the hospital after catching RSV.

"That was the worst week of my life," their mother said.

The truth is, 80% of babies under a year old catch RSV.

"They probably mostly catch it from other children," a doctor explained.

But it’s not just a risk for children. Around 177,000 older adults are hospitalized each year with RSV, and 14,000 die from it. What you don’t know about RSV could land you in the hospital.

First off — true or false: RSV spreads through contact with contaminated surfaces?

No — it spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing tiny droplets into the air.

Question number two: RSV is always a severe illness?

That depends.

RSV often mimics the common cold but can quickly turn into bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

“The older you get, the milder the disease is until you become about 60, and then it becomes severe again,” the expert said.

And because RSV is a virus, antibiotics don’t help. What is true is that prevention is key — a vaccine has recently been approved for adults over the age of 60, infants, and pregnant women.

“The protection that babies get from their mothers getting vaccinated lasts a maximum of about six months and starts to fade after about three months. So, this isn't lifetime protection, but it does protect babies during their most vulnerable months,” the doctor added.

And remember — it’s never too late to get vaccinated.

While the immediate effects of RSV are often the primary focus, the virus can also have long-term consequences. Some studies suggest a potential link between severe RSV infections in infancy and the development of asthma and wheezing later in childhood.