Although the flu often is the primary concern during the winter months, there are a variety of other respiratory infections that can cause uncomfortable symptoms during flu season. RSV is a common respiratory tract infection that can cause serious illness for young children, the elderly, and other at-risk individuals. Learn about the causes and symptoms of RSV and when to seek medical treatment for RSV. Visit AFC Urgent Care Bound Brook for same-day RSV diagnosis and treatment.
Causes & Symptoms of RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus, RSV, is a viral infection that targets the respiratory system. This can result in a variety of irritating symptoms. RSV is highly contagious. In many cases, symptoms do not appear until as long as 6 days after being infected. This results in infected individuals failing to self-isolate and causing the virus to spread very quickly. RSV can spread through the air when tiny droplets are released into the air when infected individuals talk, sneeze, or cough. It can also spread through direct contact with an infected person and can be picked up from surfaces that infected individuals have touched.
Common symptoms of RSV:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Cough
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
Does RSV Require Medical Treatment?
For most healthy adults, RSV poses a mild risk for severe illness. Although RSV can cause severe symptoms in some cases, it often is mild and lasts around a week. Certain symptoms can linger, including wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. RSV is mainly a risk to newborns and at-risk individuals. These individuals who are at risk for severe illness should seek medical care for a medical diagnosis and treatment plan to ensure symptoms can be managed.
If you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as a high fever that lasts multiple days or severe trouble breathing, you should seek medical care immediately. RSV shares many symptoms with other common illnesses. It is important to seek a medical diagnosis so that a healthcare professional can determine what is causing your symptoms and treat the symptoms effectively.
How to Prevent RSV
Viruses are notoriously contagious. This is especially true in the winter months when we spend most of our time indoors and in close contact with others. This increased close contact exposes us to both airborne virus exposure as well as surface exposure to the virus that causes RSV. Although this is true, some simple measures can be taken to reduce your risk of getting sick with RSV.
- Increased hand washing
- Use of hand sanitizer
- Avoid touching surfaces like door handles when possible
- Avoid touching your face
- Open a window when indoors
- Reduce the time spent in close quarters indoors
- Seek early diagnosis for illness symptoms
- Discuss your eligibility for the vaccine with your healthcare provider
Get Same-Day RSV Treatment By Visiting AFC Urgent Care Bound Brook
RSV can cause serious illness for at-risk individuals, and moderate illness for healthy adults. To avoid the uncomfortable symptoms associated with contracting RSV, it is important to take preventative steps to protect your health and to seek medical care if you are experiencing illness systems. Visit AFC Urgent Care Bound Brook for same-day illness diagnosis and treatment in Bound Brook, NJ. Walk in today or schedule your visit online.
The walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Bound Brook is available for walk-in patients in Bound Brook, NJ, and the surrounding communities. Our facility is open 7 days a week, and we never require you to book an appointment to receive care, simply walk into our clinic. We accept most major medical insurance plans and offer affordable care options. For additional information regarding our clinic, please contact us directly by calling 732-469-3627.
