RSV Testing and Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga – No appointment required

Does AFC offer RSV testing?

Yes, we offer a state-of-the-art RSV test, with results typically under 30 minutes. No appointment is required. Our RSV test is highly accurate and significantly reduces the likelihood of a false positive or false negative when compared to other rapid testing methods. This testing is also referred to as RT-PCR testing. We take a fluid sample from your nose and test it for certain proteins from the RSV virus. These proteins are called antigens, and they trigger your immune system to attack the virus. AFC Urgent Care only sees patients that are 6 months of age or older.

What is RSV ?

In the United States, RSV is a leading cause of severe respiratory illness in young children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RSV results in around 58,000 annual hospitalizations and 100 to 300 deaths among children under 5. The virus is highly contagious and is most commonly spread through the air. It can also be spread through contact with saliva, mucus, or blood. RSV is also spread through contact with surfaces and objects contaminated with the virus.

What are the symptoms of RSV?

Typical symptoms include fever, coughing, and chest pain.

More serious symptoms include:

• Fever
• Wheezing
• Serious cough
• Breathing faster than normal or trouble breathing
• Blue skin color

In infants, the only symptoms of RSV may be:

• Acting cranky or irritable
• Moving less than usual
• Lack of appetite
• Pauses in breathing
• AFC Urgent Care only sees patients that are 6 months of age or older

Adults can also get RSV, although it’s much less common. The infection usually lasts less than five days in healthy adults, and symptoms include runny nose, cough, headache, fatigue, and fever.

Are there certain people or groups at more risk of getting RSV?

Yes, people that are at higher risk include:

• Infants, especially those 6 months and younger
• Older adults, especially those 65 years and older
• People with heart or lung diseases
• People with weakened immune systems

Why do I need an RSV test?

You might need an RSV test if you have a runny nose, sneeze, or headache. RSV is a virus that causes these symptoms. If you’re an infant, younger child, or adult over age 65 and you have symptoms of a moderate or serious infection, you might need one. More serious symptoms include:

• Fever
• Wheezing
• Serious cough
• Breathing faster than normal or trouble breathing
• Blue skin color

In infants less than six months old, the only symptoms of RSV may be:

• Acting cranky or irritable
• Moving less than usual
• Lack of appetite
• Pauses in breathing

What happens during an RSV test?

A health care professional will use a special swab to take a sample from your nose. It’s best to get tested during the first few days after symptoms begin. The amount of the virus in your nose decreases over time, which may make test results less accurate.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

An RSV test is easy and requires no special preparation.

Are there any risks to the test?

RSV testing is very safe. The only side effect is that you might feel like you’re going to gag or be briefly uncomfortable when your nose is swabbed.

What do the results mean?

A negative result means that no signs of the RSV virus were found in your sample. It may mean that another illness is causing your symptoms. While a Rapid RSV test is very accurate, a negative result does not necessarily mean you don’t have RSV, it is possible you still have it. Your provider can furnish you more information about a possible false negative.

When the result is positive, it means you probably have an RSV infection.

If babies, young kids, or old adults are having trouble breathing or have gotten dehydrated from losing too much fluid, they may need treatment that could include oxygen and IV fluids.

Is there anything else I need to know about an RSV test?

If you’re having RSV symptoms but are otherwise healthy, your provider may not test you for RSV. Most healthy adults and children with RSV will get better in 1-2 weeks.

Are there any anti-viral medications like Tamiflu to treat RSV?

Unlike the flu or covid, there are not currently any prescription anti-viral drugs available to treat RSV. Your AFC provider can recommend over-the-counter medicines and drinking lots of fluids to help with your symptoms. As mentioned before, most healthy adults and children with RSV will get better in 1-2 weeks.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4652120/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC88309/

https://medlineplus.gov/respiratorysyncytialvirusinfections.html