ABOUT RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is common and contagious

What Is RSV?

RSV is a respiratory virus that typically causes mild symptoms. However, RSV infections can be severe and dangerous for certain people.

Who May Be at Risk for RSV-Related Infections?

RSV can be serious for those aged 60 years and older, including those with:

  • Asthma
  • Diabetes
  • COPD
  • or CHF

CHF=chronic heart failure;

COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

What Are the Symptoms of RSV?

RSV symptoms can vary from mild to severe and last up to 2 weeks. Older people have an increased risk for severe symptoms.

Symptoms of lung and lower airway infection from RSV may include:

  • Congestion
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing

TESTING

What Does It Feel Like to Have RSV?

Surviving RSV: Discover Tom’s Story

“I have learned that RSV can be a very serious illness. I had no idea it could affect older adults, like me, the way it did.”

VIEW TRANSCRIPT >

On Screen Text

RSV infection in older adults typically causes mild cold-like symptoms, including runny nose, sore throat, cough, and headache. But in older adults, it can progress to more severe disease involving the lower respiratory tract.

Tom is a patient advocate and survivor of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This is his experience; others' experiences with RSV may be different. Tom is not a healthcare provider. He was compensated by GSK for his participation in this program.

Tom

I realize that the first thing we do in life is take an in breath and the last thing that we do in life is have an out breath. It's very important that we be aware of our breathing. I had no idea RSV could affect older adults like me the way that it did.

On Screen Text

Tom’s RSV Story

Tom

My wife and I built a house on a little farm that my daughter owns and began spending a good amount of time with my two grandsons. When I was taking the boys to school, the younger of the two had been coughing a lot. We thought that, you know, it was probably the flu or a severe cold. Next thing you know, I'm coughing, and it just kept getting worse and worse, and I felt like I had something in my lungs. And so, for me, I've always been able to, like, cough something loose. It didn't matter how hard I coughed, the feeling was still there. It was horrible. After several days, my daughter suggested that I go in and have somebody see what was going on. When I first went to the doctor, the test that they gave me was a nasal swab, and that is the test that determined that I had RSV. He explained to me that adults can get it, but the adults who seem to be affected by it the most are the elderly. I guess I never thought of myself as being elderly, but I was told that was the reason that I was having such a bad case of it.

Lower Third Text

RSV is usually mild, though in older adults, it can sometimes be severe.

Tom

The doctor told me that there was no specific treatment for RSV. He told me that there might be medications that would be able to treat my symptoms. After being diagnosed with RSV, I mentioned it to my daughter, who told me that my grandson had been tested and his test came back positive that he in fact had RSV as well. I'm used to doing things outside, and I basically didn't have any energy at all. I felt like I wanted to take a nap when I got up in the morning and just didn't have any energy to do much of anything.

Lower Third Text

Most RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two.

Tom

I was thankful that after a few days of treatment I began to realize that my lungs were feeling better, and apparently the treatment was helping me. I would certainly hope that my RSV experience would allow others to be aware that if a cough-induced breathing issue arises, don't risk not getting checked out. Go see your physician and have it diagnosed.

Lower Third Text

Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the GSK

group of companies.

©2023 GSK or licensor.

RSAVID230010 April 2023

Produced in USA.

Get questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist about RSVFAQs

How Do You Get RSV?

How does RSV spread?

Like other respiratory infections, RSV can spread from person to person in several ways. RSV can spread through:

Coughs or sneezes icon

Coughs or sneezes

Two people icon

Contact with someone
who is sick with the virus

Avoid contact icon

Touching your face after having
contact with a surface containing the virus

How long are you contagious when you have RSV?

Most people with RSV are contagious for 3 to 8 days.

When is RSV season?

The seasonality of RSV can vary. Factors such as geographic location, population density, or even climate can impact RSV activity. But for the majority of the United States:

  • RSV cases tend to rise from mid-September to mid-November
  • RSV cases tend to peak from late December to mid-February
  • RSV cases tend to decline from mid-April to mid-May

Are There Ways to Protect Against RSV?

Here are some healthy ways to help protect yourself

Wash hands icon

Wash hands for at
least 20 seconds

Touching face icon

Avoid touching
your face

Sneezing icon

Sneeze or cough into your
elbow or a tissue

Cleaning icon

Clean commonly touched
surfaces frequently

Distancing icon

Avoid contact with
sick people

House icon

Stay home when you
are sick

Syringe icon

Get an RSV vaccine

Get questions you can ask your doctor about RSVFAQs

ABOUT RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is common and contagious

What Is RSV?

RSV is a respiratory virus that typically causes mild symptoms. However, RSV infections can be severe and dangerous for certain people.

Who May Be at Risk for RSV-Related Infections?

RSV can be serious for those aged 60 years and older, including those with:

  • Asthma
  • Diabetes
  • COPD
  • or CHF

CHF=chronic heart failure;

COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

What Are the Symptoms of RSV?

RSV symptoms can vary from mild to severe and last up to 2 weeks. Older people have an increased risk for severe symptoms.

Symptoms of lung and lower airway infection from RSV may include:

  • Congestion
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing

What Does It Feel Like to Have RSV?

Surviving RSV: Discover Tom’s Story

“I have learned that RSV can be a very serious illness. I had no idea it could affect older adults, like me, the way it did.”

VIEW TRANSCRIPT >

On Screen Text

RSV infection in older adults typically causes mild cold-like symptoms, including runny nose, sore throat, cough, and headache. But in older adults, it can progress to more severe disease involving the lower respiratory tract.

Tom is a patient advocate and survivor of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This is his experience; others' experiences with RSV may be different. Tom is not a healthcare provider. He was compensated by GSK for his participation in this program.

Tom

I realize that the first thing we do in life is take an in breath and the last thing that we do in life is have an out breath. It's very important that we be aware of our breathing. I had no idea RSV could affect older adults like me the way that it did.

On Screen Text

Tom’s RSV Story

Tom

My wife and I built a house on a little farm that my daughter owns and began spending a good amount of time with my two grandsons. When I was taking the boys to school, the younger of the two had been coughing a lot. We thought that, you know, it was probably the flu or a severe cold. Next thing you know, I'm coughing, and it just kept getting worse and worse, and I felt like I had something in my lungs. And so, for me, I've always been able to, like, cough something loose. It didn't matter how hard I coughed, the feeling was still there. It was horrible. After several days, my daughter suggested that I go in and have somebody see what was going on. When I first went to the doctor, the test that they gave me was a nasal swab, and that is the test that determined that I had RSV. He explained to me that adults can get it, but the adults who seem to be affected by it the most are the elderly. I guess I never thought of myself as being elderly, but I was told that was the reason that I was having such a bad case of it.

Lower Third Text

RSV is usually mild, though in older adults, it can sometimes be severe.

Tom

The doctor told me that there was no specific treatment for RSV. He told me that there might be medications that would be able to treat my symptoms. After being diagnosed with RSV, I mentioned it to my daughter, who told me that my grandson had been tested and his test came back positive that he in fact had RSV as well. I'm used to doing things outside, and I basically didn't have any energy at all. I felt like I wanted to take a nap when I got up in the morning and just didn't have any energy to do much of anything.

Lower Third Text

Most RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two.

Tom

I was thankful that after a few days of treatment I began to realize that my lungs were feeling better, and apparently the treatment was helping me. I would certainly hope that my RSV experience would allow others to be aware that if a cough-induced breathing issue arises, don't risk not getting checked out. Go see your physician and have it diagnosed.

Lower Third Text

Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the GSK

group of companies.

©2023 GSK or licensor.

RSAVID230010 April 2023

Produced in USA.

Get questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist about RSV

FAQs

How Do You Get RSV?

How does RSV spread?

Like other respiratory infections, RSV can spread from person to person in several ways. RSV can spread through:

coughing-icon.svg

Coughs or sneezes

two-people-icon.svg

Contact with someone
who is sick with the virus

contact-icon.svg

Touching your face after having
contact with a surface containing the virus

How long are you contagious when you have RSV?

Most people with RSV are contagious for 3 to 8 days.

When is RSV season?

The seasonality of RSV can vary. Factors such as geographic location, population density, or even climate can impact RSV activity. But for the majority of the United States:

  • RSV cases tend to rise from mid-September to mid-November
  • RSV cases tend to peak from late December to mid-February
  • RSV cases tend to decline from mid-April to mid-May

Are There Ways to Protect Against RSV?

Here are some healthy ways to help protect yourself

wash-hands-icon.svg

Wash hands for at
least 20 seconds

touching-icon.svg

Avoid touching
your face

sneezing-icon.svg

Sneeze or cough into your
elbow or a tissue

cleaning-icon.svg

Clean commonly touched
surfaces frequently

distancing-icon.svg

Avoid contact with
sick people

house-icon.svg

Stay home when you
are sick

syringe-icon.svg

Get an RSV vaccine

Get questions you can ask your doctor about RSV

FAQs

Protect Yourself
Against RSV

Protect Yourself Against RSV

Location pin icon

GET AREXVY

See when and where you can get AREXVY.


FIND AREXVY

Hand icon

GET VACCINE REMINDERS

Sign up for reminders about getting AREXVY.


REMIND ME

Information icon

STAY INFORMED

Sign up for more information about RSV and AREXVY.


SIGN UP

 

Ask your doctor about