Treating Mild RSV at Home

At home, the basic premise for managing
mild to moderate RSV infection is to control the symptoms and make the patient comfortable.^{1, 29}

When is hospitalization necessary?
Parents may become concerned about the symptoms of RSV infection if they become more pronounced or if their child seems particularly ill. Visits to the pediatrician are very common with an RSV infection, and physicians will need to assess the severity of the disease to determine if hospitalization is required. Parents should be advised to consult their physician if any one of the following is present in their child:

• fever over 101°F (38.3°C)
• thick nasal discharge that is yellow, green, or gray
• cough that lasts more than four days
• cough that produces yellow, green, or gray mucous
• chest pain
• difficulty breathing
• rapid breathing
• bluish or gray color of the lips, skin, or fingernails
• reduced alertness

In these cases, the patient may need to be hospitalized and treatment with an antiviral may be indicated.

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