Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

If your child has contracted the virus, it may take a few days before they show the first symptoms of a cold.

The symptoms may be as follows:

• Cough
• Mild fever
• The child no longer wants to drink as usual
• Significantly faster and more laboured breathing
• A "crackling rattle" is usually clearly audible on exhalation

In general, it can be said that the symptoms of an illness with RSV usually worsen by the fifth or sixth day, then remain the same for a few days and then slowly improve again. The total duration of the illness can vary greatly from person to person.

Rule of thumb:
The younger the child is, the longer the illness lasts.
Your child may well have a cough for several weeks.

• Rinse your child's nose regularly with saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) and give nasal drops a maximum of three times a day for a maximum of seven days. (Ask for advice on this via the Medgate Kids Line or at the pharmacy).
• Give your child a fever-reducing medicine if they have a fever. (Ask for advice on this via the Medgate Kids Line or at the pharmacy).
• Make sure that your child gets as much rest as possible to recover.
• Offer your child something to drink regularly.

• If the above measures do not lead to an improvement.
• If your child suffers from very laboured breathing.
• If your child refuses to drink fluids, gets exhausted quickly every time they drink or vomits after drinking due to severe coughing.
• If your child is doing very badly overall.