Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
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Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common, highly infectious virus that affects the respiratory system (airways and lungs).
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RSV is an unpredictable virus that causes seasonal outbreaks, usually during winter.
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RSV infections are usually mild with cold-like symptoms but can cause more serious illnesses, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
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Vulnerable people such as infants and older people can get immunised against RSV.
What is RSV?
RSV is a common virus that infects the airways and lungs. It spreads easily through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms can include a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever and reduced appetite. It can also make breathing difficult and cause wheezing.
How do you get RSV?
RSV spreads easily when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, sending respiratory droplets that contain the virus into the air. These droplets can enter another person’s eyes, nose or mouth and cause infection. Droplets can also land on surfaces, such as door handles, toys and other frequently touched objects. If someone touches these surfaces and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth, the virus can spread. It can also spread through hand-to-hand contact with a person with an active RSV infection.
What are the signs and symptoms of RSV?
RSV infections are often mild, with symptoms like a common cold. RSV is one of the most frequent causes of coughs, colds and earaches, but the illness can worsen quickly – as little as 2 to 3 days after infection.
Symptoms include:
- fever
- runny nose
- headache
- sneezing
- coughing
- wheezing.
How serious is RSV for babies and young children?
In infants and children, RSV infection may cause difficulty breathing, and the infection may progress to more serious respiratory infections such as:
RSV infection can also increase the risk of longer-term breathing problems like childhood asthma.
How serious is RSV for babies and young children
In infants and children, RSV infection may cause difficulty breathing, and the infection may progress to more serious respiratory infections such as:
RSV infection can also increase the risk of longer-term breathing problems like childhood asthma.
How common is RSV?
RSV is very common, and more than half of all babies will get infected before their first birthday. In Australia, RSV infection is the most common reason babies are hospitalised in their first year of life. Every year in WA, about one in every 30 babies is hospitalised with RSV.
In 2025, approximately one quarter of notifications were among adults aged 60 years and over.
Who is most at risk of RSV?
RSV infections can affect people of all ages and in most cases, causes only mild illness.
However, babies aged less than 6 months are at highest risk of severe illness. Babies and young children with pre-existing medical conditions are at higher risk of becoming unwell with RSV infections and may require admission to hospital. RSV infections can also trigger symptoms in children with asthma.
People with health conditions that lower their immunity, adults aged 65 years and older and Aboriginal people also have a higher risk of serious illness.
Is there an immunisation to protect against RSV?
Yes. More information is available on RSV immunisation.
How can we prevent the spread of RSV?
RSV infection can be prevented by:
- getting the RSV immunisation
- practicing good hand hygiene by regularly washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitiser
- practicing good personal hygiene, including covering your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, wearing a mask when leaving home and avoiding close contact with others. RSV can be diagnosed by a PCR test (nose or throat swab) or rapid antigen test.
- keeping infected people away from others until they recover, particularly those at higher risk (babies, infants, children and older adults)
- cleaning surfaces and items that may be contaminated with a detergent that kills viruses.
How is RSV treated?
Mild RSV infections can be treated with rest, drinking lots of water and taking simple over the counter pain medication, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, if needed.
People with more serious RSV infections may require hospitalisation.
As RSV is a virus, antibiotics will not help unless there is a secondary bacterial infection.
Where to get help
- See your doctor
- Visit healthdirect (external site) or call 1800 022 222
- For emergency or life-threatening conditions, visit an emergency department or dial triple zero (000) to call an ambulance
Last reviewed: 09-03-2026
Acknowledgements
Public Health
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.