What You
Should Know About...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in the Child Care Setting
RSV causes infections of the upper respiratory tract (like a cold) and the lower
respiratory tract (like pneumonia). It is the most frequent cause of lower respiratory
infections, including pneumonia, in infants and children under 2 years of age. Almost 100
percent of children in child care get RSV in the first year of their life, usually during
outbreaks during the winter months. In most children, symptoms appear similar to a mild
cold. About half of the infections result in lower respiratory tract infections and otitis
media. An RSV infection can range from very mild to life-threatening or even fatal.
Children with heart or lung disease and weak immune systems are at increased risk of
developing severe infection and complications. RSV causes repeated symptomatic infections
throughout life.
RSV is spread through direct contact with infectious secretions such as by breathing
them in after an infected person has coughed or by touching a surface an infected person
has contaminated by touching it or coughing on it. A young child with RSV may be
infectious for 1 to 3 weeks after symptoms subside.
The most effective preventive measure against the spread of RSV and other respiratory
viral infections is careful and frequent handwashing. Once one child in a group is
infected with RSV, spread to others is rapid. Frequently, a child is infectious before
symptoms appear. Therefore, an infected child does not need to be excluded from child care
unless he or she is not well enough to participate in usual activities.
If a child or adult in the child care facility develops an illness caused by RSV
infection: Make sure that procedures regarding handwashing, hygiene, disposal of tissues
used to clean nasal secretions, and cleaning and disinfection of toys are followed. If
multiple cases occur, cohorting or separating ill children from well/recovered children
may help to reduce the spread of RSV. Do not exclude ill children unless they are unable
to participate comfortably in activities or require a level of care that would jeopardize
the health and safety of the other children in your care. |