During the winter months, cases of respiratory illnesses increase significantly. Increased time spent indoors in close quarters to others facilitates the rapid spread of contagious diseases, and RSV is no exception. RSV symptoms can be severe, and even life-threatening in some cases. It is important to understand the symptoms associated with RSV and how to prevent the spread of RSV to prevent cases of severe illness. Keep reading to learn more about RSV symptoms, treatment, and prevention. If you’re sick and think you may have RSV, AFC Urgent Care Burlington can help. Our experienced medical providers are available 7 days a week to provide prompt illness symptom diagnosis and treatment to help prevent the spread of illnesses. We never require that you schedule an appointment, simply walk in!
Signs That You Might Have RSV
One of the first things you would notice if you have RSV is that you start having a runny or stuffy nose. This symptom often appears between four to six days after infection and is often overlooked due to its similarities with the common cold.
A runny nose is not the only symptom that points to a possibility of an RSV infection. It is important to understand common symptoms of RSV so that you know when to seek medical care and the steps that you should be taking to prevent the spread of RSV in your community.
Symptoms associated with RSV include:
- Wheezing
- Dry Coughs
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Body pains
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
Complications Caused By RSV
While RSV typically causes manageable symptoms that resolve on their own over time for most healthy adults, RSV can cause severe illness for certain at-risk individuals. Like many other respiratory tract diseases, infants, adults older than 75, patients with underlying heart or lung conditions, or anyone with a compromised immune system are at-risk for developing severe and potentially life-threatening symptoms due to RSV. If you fall into any of these categories, it is highly possible that you could develop further complications from contracting RSV and you should always seek urgent medical care if you think you may have been exposed to RSV.
How Do You Treat RSV?
RSV is caused by a virus. Because of this, it cannot be treated with medications such as antibiotics. Instead, treatment focuses on managing symptoms associated with RSV and getting plenty of rest to ensure that your immune system has the energy it needs to fight off the infection. There are many different OTC medications available to manage symptoms associated with RSV including decongestants, fever reducers, and cough suppressants. Your medical provider will be able to advise you on the medications that will be most effective for your symptoms. If you do contract RSV, you should self-isolate to prevent spreading your illness to others.
Walk Into AFC Burlington for Same-Day RSV Diagnosis & Treatment
If you think that you may have been exposed to RSV, it is important to seek medical care. At AFC Urgent Care Burlington, our board-certified medical providers are experts at identifying symptoms associated with common illnesses like RSV. While RSV may not be treatable with medications, there are steps that you can take to manage your symptoms and prevent the spread of RSV to others. Simply walk into AFC Burlington for same-day care today!
