The Top Symptoms of RSV To Be Aware of in Older Adults, According to Immunologists
Senior woman with RSV blowing her nose
Respiratory syncytial virus, more commonly referred to as RSV, affects most people before they’re two years old. However, if you are older than 65 or a caregiver for someone older than 65, it’s important to know that this virus can impact older adults too.
If you haven’t thought about RSV since you were raising little ones—or perhaps you never really knew much about it—it’s worth it to educate yourself on how to protect yourself from RSV, what the most common symptoms are and what to do if you are experiencing them. Keep reading for everything immunologists want you to know.
Related: This Is Who Actually Needs to Worry About RSV in the Coming Weeks
Who Is Most At-Risk for RSV?
According to Dr. Martin Smith, MD, a board-certified immunologist, allergist and the founder of Untoxicated, people who are at a higher risk of severe RSV infections include infants, adults with chronic health conditions and those over the age of 65. He adds that infants who were born preterm and younger than 6 months old are at the highest risk, especially if they are born in the first half of RSV season, which is October to December.
“For adults, those with chronic conditions such as heart failure, emphysema and asthma are at a higher risk, including those who are immunocompromised, such as people who are on chemo or transplant medications and those with HIV,” Dr. Smith says. He adds that, interestingly, people who frequently visit cities with altitudes higher than 8,000 feet are also at increased risk.
Related: FDA Approves Vaccine for Pregnant Mothers to Protect Newborns Against RSV
Dr. Jenna Podjasek, MD, a board-certified immunologist, allergist and author, explains that the reason why adults older than 65 are at an increased risk for RSV is because the functionality of the immune system decreases as you age. In addition to being more susceptible to RSV, she says that the health implications can be more serious if an older adult does become infected. This, she says, is because it can lead to pneumonia and other lung infections.
Dr. Diana Elizalde, MD, a geriatric medicine specialist at CenterWell Senior Primary Care, adds to this, saying, “Seniors tend to have more chronic conditions and, as a geriatrician, I have seen first-hand the negative health effects of these highly transmissible viruses on the immunocompromised.” In fact, she says that RSV causes over 60,000 hospitalizations and between 6,000 and 10,000 deaths among seniors 65 or older every year.
What Are the Symptoms of RSV in Older Adults?
Symptoms of RSV can range from mild to severe. Dr. Elizalde says that mild RSV symptoms can include a runny nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing and a decrease in appetite. “In more severe cases, patients can experience acute dehydration or difficulty breathing, which can signal pneumonia or another lung infection,” she says.
If you’re coughing a lot, Dr. Smith says this is definitely a symptom to take seriously. “In adults over the age of 65, symptoms almost always include a cough, whereas with the flu, coughing is usually just present in about two-thirds of patients,” he says. He explains that the cough is usually dry, but if someone with RSV develops pneumonia, it can become a wet cough.
Related: Vanessa Lachey Recalls Watching Her Infant Son Battle RSV: 'It Rocked Us to the Core'
Dr. Smith says that another symptom of RSV is wheezing. “Wheezing is found in more than a third of people with RSV, even if you don’t have asthma,” he says. If you have COPD or asthma, he adds that RSV could cause a flare-up. “Sinus infections are also fair game,” Dr. Smith adds.
If your only symptom of RSV is a cough, Dr. Smith says to rest up at home, making sure to drink plenty of liquids. But if the symptoms go beyond that, see a doctor—especially if you are short of breath. Dr. Podjasek says that RSV can be treated with medications, such as antiviral drugs and bronchodilators, a type of medication that makes breathing easier by relaxing muscles in the lungs and widening the airways.
How To Protect Yourself From RSV
Dr. Elizalde says that the best way to protect yourself from RSV is to wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face. “RSV enters the body through the mouth, nose or eyes, and spreads easily through the air,” she says, explaining the reasoning why these two actions go a long way in protecting against the virus.
It’s also important to know that there are two RSV vaccines available, which could offer a layer of protection. If you are older than 65, Dr. Elizalde says to talk to your healthcare provider about whether one of the vaccines is a good fit for you.
As we head into the time of year when RSV infections become most common, it’s especially important to take measures to protect yourself from the virus. When you do, you’ll be protecting yourself against catching other infections as well, including COVID-19 and the flu. And by keeping yourself healthy, you’ll be helping others stay healthy too!
Next up, here's how to tell the difference between a cold and COVID.
Sources
Dr. Martin Smith, MD, board-certified immunologist, allergist, and the founder of Untoxicated
Dr. Jenna Podjasek, MD, board-certified immunologist, allergist, and author
Dr. Diana Elizalde, MD, geriatric medicine specialist at CenterWell Senior Primary Care
