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Key points
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that infects the lungs and airways.
- RSV is the most common cause of respiratory infections in children.
- Symptoms of infection from RSV often include a runny nose, coughing, wheezing and fever.
- Most cases of RSV infection are mild and will get better at home with rest and fluids.
- RSV spreads very easily; teach your child to practice good hygiene.
- Try to keep your child away from newborn babies and people with weak immune systems while they have symptoms.
- Your child can go to childcare, kindergarten or school if they feel okay and their symptoms have improved.
- In Australia, there is now a free RSV immunisation program to protect babies from RSV.
What is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)?
Respiratory syncytial (sin-city-al) virus (RSV) is a virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs. It is the most common cause of respiratory tract (breathing passage) infections in children.
Anyone can get RSV – not just children. It is a very infectious virus. Most kids have had RSV at some stage by their second birthday, and it is possible to catch RSV more than once.
What is the difference between a cold and RSV?
RSV is one of many viruses that can cause respiratory infections, including the common cold. It is not a separate illness.
In most cases, RSV causes a mild cold with symptoms like a runny nose and cough that gets better in one or two weeks. However, the virus can lead to more serious conditions in some children, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia – particularly in babies under one year old and those with risk factors like prematurity and chronic lung disease. It can also make existing problems like asthma worse.
Signs and symptoms of RSV
In most children, RSV normally causes a mild infection, with symptoms lasting between one to two weeks.
The most common symptoms caused by an RSV infection are:
- runny nose
- cough
- wheeze
- trouble breathing
- fever.
Your child may only show symptoms of RSV infection several days after exposure to the virus.
Most cases of RSV infection will get better at home with lots of rest and fluids. However, RSV can cause more serious problems that may affect your child’s feeding and breathing. It is important to monitor your child’s symptoms.
Is RSV contagious?
RSV is very contagious. This means it spreads easily from one person to another. If your child has an RSV infection, they are most likely to pass the virus to other people for up to eight days after their symptoms start. They may even spread RSV one or
two days before they show any signs of illness.
RSV spreads through droplets. When infected people talk, cough, or sneeze, they release droplets into the air or onto surfaces. The virus can live on surfaces like toys for many hours and on unwashed hands for up to 60 minutes.
Stopping the spread of RSV
It is hard to stop your child from spreading RSV – especially if they are young. Teaching them to practice good hygiene will help limit the spread to others.
Here are the best ways to avoid spreading RSV:
- Do not let your child share drinks, cutlery or toys (if possible) while sick and clean or sanitise these items, along with surfaces, thoroughly between uses.
- Encourage your child to cough and sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
- Teach your child to wash their hands often, including after blowing their nose.
- Keep your child away from newborns or people with weakened immune systems while sick.
If your child is over two years old, face masks and physical distancing can help stop the spread of RSV. Masks are a choking risk in children under two years.
When to get help
Call an ambulance (000) if:
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- your child is turning blue, having trouble breathing, having pauses in their breathing (apnoeas) or is breathing very hard or fast.
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Go to a hospital if:
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- your child is finding it hard to breathe or breathing faster.
- your child is taking in less than half of their usual feeds.
- your child is less than three months old and appears lethargic or does not look well.
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See a doctor or health professional if:
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- your child is less than three months old and has a fever (temperature of 38°C or more).
- your child has a temperature, and they do not look well.
- your child is under one year of age and is having trouble feeding.
- your child has a cough that is getting worse or is affecting their breathing.
- your child has a medical condition that makes them at higher risk of serious illness from RSV like a chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease.
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Look after your child at home if:
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- they have typical symptoms of an RSV infection like a runny nose, cough or wheeze.
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How to care for RSV at home
- Keep your child home if they feel unwell or if they are coughing and sneezing a lot.
- If your child feels well, they are coughing and sneezing much less, and they are eating and drinking, they can continue with normal activities like childcare and school.
- Encourage your child to drink small amounts of fluids more often. If your child is under one year old, regularly give them small amounts of fluid like breastmilk, formula or water.
- Try to make sure your child gets lots of rest.
RSV vaccine for pregnant women and RSV immunisation for infants
In early 2025, the Australian Government started a free immunisation program to protect babies from RSV. The ‘RSV Mother and Infant Protection Program’
includes vaccines for pregnant women and babies who are at a higher risk of severe RSV.
Vaccine for pregnant women
Under the National Immunisation Program, pregnant women can now get the maternal RSV vaccine ‘Abrysvo®’ for free. The vaccine is recommended for women from 28 weeks of pregnancy to protect their newborn from RSV. It can safely be given at the same time
as the free maternal vaccines for influenza and whooping cough.
Research shows that RSV vaccines in pregnancy reduce the risk of severe RSV disease in babies under 6 months of age by about 70%.
Immunisation for infants
In Victoria from 1 April to 30 September 2025, an RSV monoclonal antibody immunisation called ‘Beyfortus™’ will be offered to protect babies and young children under eight months old who are most at risk of a serious RSV infection, like bronchiolitis.
The medicine sticks to the RSV virus and stops it from entering cells in the body. It is given as an injection.
Most infants will only need protection from the maternal vaccine or monoclonal antibody immunisation. Infants at a higher risk of severe RSV will also be offered a Beyfortus™ dose in their first or second RSV season.
Read the program information or visit the Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (MVEC) website for more information on whether your baby should have an RSV immunisation. If you have questions, it is also a good idea to speak to your doctor.
Common questions about RSV
How long does RSV last?
In most cases, an RSV infection like the common cold lasts one to two weeks. Your child may take longer to recover if they have an existing condition like asthma.
Can adults get RSV?
Adults can get an RSV infection, just like children. Most adults with an RSV infection get a cold with symptoms like a runny nose, cough, wheeze, trouble breathing, or fever. People over 65 years old are at a higher risk of getting very sick from
RSV.
My child has a cold; do I need to test them for RSV?
If your child has a cold, it can be hard to tell which virus they have. There are tests available from pharmacies that check for RSV; a doctor can also do a nose or throat swab called a PCR test. However, it does not really matter whether your
child has RSV or another virus because treatment for all colds is the same – plenty of rest and fluids. Antibiotics do not work on viruses.
This podcast is also available in audio format below, and on Apple Podcasts and
Spotify.
Winter wellness season: Understanding RSV
For more information
Developed by The Royal Children’s General Medicine department, with input from the Emergency department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.
Reviewed April 2025
Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered
and practising clinician.