While most adults only get mild symptoms when contracting the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the same can’t be said of older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), adults over the age of 60 should be particularly concerned when they have RSV. In previous years, there have been hundreds of hospital admissions of persons over 75 per 100,000 and those who were in their 60s weren’t far behind. Black Americans, in particular, should be wary of contracting RSV as statistics show that they account for over 55 percent of all hospitalizations from the virus.
Five RSV complications for older adults
1. Worse COVID Symptoms
If you already have COVID-19 and then contract RSV or vice versa, the presence of the RSV usually makes the COVID-19 symptoms worse.
Some studies also suggest that having COVID-19 can make you more susceptible to certain viruses. Since both of these illnesses can significantly affect your breathing, it’s worth talking to your doctor about the steps to keep you safe.
2. Worsening asthma or COPD
People who have chronic respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD are likely to have their symptoms worsen when they contract RSV.
In these cases, your regular maintenance treatments or emergency inhalers may not work as well. You should talk to your doctor as soon as you start feeling ill in case you need a different treatment while you’re sick.
3. Pneumonia
Your illness can develop into pneumonia if your RSV symptoms get out of control.
Some signs that you have pneumonia are a high fever that leads to shaking or chills, a loss of appetite, shortness of breath, shallow breathing, sharp chest pain, and a cough that produces green, yellowish, or bloody mucus. Pneumonia must be treated by your doctor.
4. Bronchiolitis
Sometimes RSV can cause bronchiolitis, which is the inflammation of the bronchioles in your lungs. The initial signs of this illness are fever, congestion, runny nose, loss of appetite, and a cough.
As your condition worsens, you may experience wheezing, shortness of breath, and a worsening cough. You’ll need medical intervention to treat it.
5. Worsening congestive heart failure
People who are dealing with congestive heart failure may experience worsening symptoms if they contract RSV. You’ll need to look out for signs of heart trouble as well as issues from RSV. You should contact your doctor immediately if you have trouble breathing or have heart palpitations.
Signs you need to go to the hospital
It’s common for adults to assume that they’ve caught a bad case of the cold or flu when they’re dealing with RSV. There are a few key differences to look out for, though. For example, the fever that’s associated with the flu often happens more quickly than the one with RSV.
More importantly, you need to know when it’s time to go to the hospital. Some signs that your RSV is getting worse include an increasing fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, a worsening cough, and a bluish tint to your skin or lips because of poor oxygen levels in your blood.
How RSV is treated
If your symptoms are manageable, your doctor will likely recommend using over-the-counter medications until you feel better. However, once you need to go to the hospital, there are a few different treatment options available. You can’t cure RSV but there are supportive treatments that help ease your symptoms and prevent complications.
Some options include IV fluids to keep you hydrated; oxygen to ensure that your blood remains oxygenated; ventilators to help you breathe; decongestants, and immunoglobulin if you have a weak immune system.
Tips for preventing RSV infections
One thing you can do to avoid contracting RSV is to stay away from people who are sick – whether or not they’ve been diagnosed with the illness. If you think that you have touched someone who’s sick or they have been in your home, you need to wash your hands and disinfect all the surfaces in the house. It’s also a good idea to avoid touching your face regularly as this is one of the ways that germs get introduced into your system.
Additionally, RSV vaccines are now available for adults over the age of 60 as well as others who may be more susceptible to the virus. You should talk to your doctor as soon as possible to find out if they’re right for you.
It’s typical for many Americans to contract RSV during the fall. Most of them won’t experience bad symptoms but older adults are more likely to have complications. This appears to be especially true for black people. While it’s best not to get the illness in the first place, it’s just as important to know how to manage the symptoms if you have it.
