During the winter months, respiratory illness cases are at an all-time high. It can be difficult to self-diagnose your symptoms and determine when to seek medical care. RSV is a common viral infection that attacks the respiratory system. RSV can lead to severe illness for anyone who is considered at-risk. This includes the elderly, young children, and pregnant women. Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of RSV, RSV prevention tips, and more. If you’re experiencing illness symptoms, walk into AFC Urgent Care North Bergen for same-day illness symptom diagnosis and treatment. We’re open 7 days a week and never require that you schedule an appointment - just walk in.
Symptoms of RSV
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a contagious viral infection. RSV affects the respiratory system, which can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms. For most people, RSV will cause cold-like symptoms. However, certain at-risk individuals may be prone to getting seriously sick from RSV such as immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and the elderly. It is important to understand common symptoms of RSV so that you don’t unintentionally expose at-risk individuals to the virus. However, many common RSV symptoms such as a sore throat, can mimic symptoms of other illnesses which can make it difficult to identify.
Common RSV symptoms include:
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Loss of appetite
- Wheezing
- Headache
- Fever
RSV Prevention
Like many viral infections, prevention is the key to prevent complications or severe illness. Viral infections are very contagious from person to person and tend to spread quickly in office and school settings due to the lack of airflow and touching shared surfaces like door handles and faucets.
Viruses infect the body by reaching the respiratory system. You can prevent this by washing your hands regularly and avoiding touching your face so that you don’t accidentally transfer viruses to your respiratory system. Similarly, always keep a safe distance from anyone presenting with illness symptoms and avoid touching commonly used surfaces as much as possible. There is a vaccine for RSV available to anyone who is considered to be at a high risk for developing severe symptoms from RSV. You should speak to your medical provider regarding your eligibility for the RSV vaccine.
Treatment Options for RSV
Viral infections like RSV can be difficult to treat. This is because viruses cannot be treated with medications such as antibiotics. Instead, your body will fight off the infection on its own with time. However, if your symptoms are severe such as a fever that lasts more than 24 hours, you should seek medical care. Similarly, always seek medical care if you’re considered at risk and think you may have been exposed to RSV. Your medical provider will be able to diagnose your symptoms and suggest at-home care instructions to ensure that your recovery goes smoothly.
Visit AFC North Bergen for Illness Symptom Diagnosis & Treatment
If you’re experiencing symptoms of RSV, AFC Urgent Care North Bergen is here to help. Our walk-in urgent care clinic offers same-day diagnostic testing and symptom diagnosis for patients in North Bergen, NJ, and the surrounding areas. AFC North Bergen makes it easy to get rapid illness symptom diagnosis and treatment without long wait times or having to schedule an appointment in advance. Simply walk-in when it’s convenient for you. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer affordable care for patients without insurance.
