Is this your symptom?
- Cold symptoms (congestion, cough, sore throat, mild fever) thought to be caused by a virus called RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)
- You wonder if you need to be seen
The RSV Virus
- RSV infection is usually mild in healthy young adults, but can be more serious in older adults and infants.
- RSV is one of the many causes of the common cold in adults. Symptoms include congestion, cough, sore throat and mild fever.
- It spreads the most in the fall and winter seasons, like most colds.
- It can cause a
- bronchiolitis or
- bronchitis or
- common nasal cold.
- RSV infection can be more serious in adults with underlying health issues, smokers and pregnant women.
- There are now vaccines available for older adults, pregnant women and young children.
When to Call for RSV Infection
Call 911 Now
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
|
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
|
Call 911 Now
- Severe trouble breathing (struggling for each breath, can barely speak or cry)
- Passed out or stopped breathing
- Lips or face are bluish when not coughing
- You think you have a life-threatening emergency
Go to ER Now
- Not alert when awake ("out of it")
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Trouble breathing but not severe
- Lips or face have turned bluish during coughing
- Harsh sound with breathing in or wheezing when breathing out
- Breathing is much faster than normal
- High-risk patient (such as cystic fibrosis, chronic lung disease, asthma or heart disease)
- Weak immune system. Examples are: diabetes, sickle cell disease, HIV, Cancer, organ transplant, and taking oral steroids
- You are pregnant
- Fever higher than 104° F (40° C)
- You feel weak or very sick
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Nonstop coughing spells
- Earache or ear drainage
- Fever lasts more than 3 days
- Fever returns after being gone for more than 24 hours
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Mild wheezing lasts more than 7 days
- Sinus pain (not just congestion) around cheekbones or eyes
- Cough lasts more than 3 weeks
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Mild cold symptoms with no other problems
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
