
A common virus among young children is marking rising cases in the U.S., raising concerns that hospitals could be overwhelmed this year by potential winter viruses in both the flu and COVID-19.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is extremely common, with almost everyone having been exposed to the pathogen by the age of 2 years.
In healthy adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms that go away with rest and self-care.
Younger children, especially those under 6 months, have the highest risk of developing severe cases that can lead to hospitalization.
There are currently no vaccines available for RSV, and the only treatment is monoclonal antibodies, usually reserved for extremely high-risk cases, including premature babies or those with chronic heart and lung diseases.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that more than 4,000 cases of RSV are being reported each week recently, a surge similar to that experienced in late 2021.