How do I know if it’s more serious than a common cold/cough?

Question

Basically my question is how do I know if it’s RSV. It’s day two of my daughter having a runny nose, cough, and low grade fever. She is in good spirits but definitely sick. We took her to pediatric urgent care and they said RSV doesn’t develop until around days 3-4. How do I know if it’s RSV or just a common cold/cough that needs to pass?

Answer

My baby had RSV around Halloween and it came on fast with tons of clear drainage from his nose, super fussy, low grade temp (100-101). Within about 1 day he started wheezing and we took him in. They don’t commonly test for RSV because just knowing it is RSV doesn’t change the treatment. It peaks on day 3-5 and then starts to ease off. We did breathing treatments at home for the wheezing, nose Frieda for the mucus, humidifier, Tylenol, and pedialyte for when he wouldn’t take much formula. Not all babies who get RSV end up with bronchiolitis which is the wheezing and difficulty breathing part, many just have lots of snot and more like cold symptoms.

Answer

Also, whether it’s RSV or just a common cold it still just has to pass. Both are caused by viruses and there isn’t a treatment for them like antibiotics for a bacterial infection. It’s just supportive care and watching for signs of difficulty breathing or dehydration. I’m not at all saying that you shouldn’t take them to get checked out by their pediatrician, just don’t be surprised if they don’t do a test for RSV and don’t expect meds.

Answer

If the fever gets any higher, bring your baby back and tell them you want him/her tested for RSV. My doctor told me that after hours clinics doesn’t like to see babies and you have to ask for the RSV test. My son had all of those symptoms. I brought him to an after hours clinic. I was told to give him Zyrtec. He wasn’t getting any better so a week later I got him into his doctor and they did a RSV test, it came back positive.

How do I know if it’s more serious than a common cold/cough?

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