Can Adults Get RSV? Yes, but Not All Adults Are at Risk for Severe Illness

RSV — or respiratory syncytial virus — is most active during the winter. It’s best known for causing serious lower respiratory tract infections, like bronchiolitis, in young children and babies. But adults can get RSV too. 

What is RSV?

RSV is a common cold virus. Like all common cold viruses, it spreads through respiratory droplets and gets into your body through your nose, mouth, or eyes. 

Once inside, the virus can infect your nose, throat, and sinuses, causing upper respiratory tract infections and the common cold. Most of the time, your immune system fights off RSV before it can go any further.

But in some cases, RSV can spread to your airways and lungs. This causes more serious illnesses like pneumonia. Many people with severe RSV illness need to be cared for in a hospital. Severe RSV illness can cause severe trouble breathing and other health problems.

Can adults get RSV?

Yes, adults can get RSV. In fact, you’ve likely gotten sick with RSV many times in your life. Almost everyone gets it at least once by the time they are 2 years old. And experts estimate that adults have about a 10% chance of getting sick with RSV each year.

Adults usually fight off RSV more efficiently than children. Most adults develop only mild cold-like symptoms when they get sick with RSV. And many adults don’t develop any symptoms at all. 

But that changes as you get older or if you have certain medical conditions. 

Can adults get RSV from children?

Yes, it’s common for adults to pick up the RSV virus from children. RSV is very contagious and spreads easily from kids to adults, especially if they live in the same house. RSV also spreads easily in schools and daycare centers. 

Adults can also get RSV from other adults. Many adults don’t develop symptoms when they’re sick with RSV. But they’re still contagious. This means they can spread the virus to others without even knowing they’re sick. 

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RSV can also spread easily in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. To protect loved ones in these settings, avoid visiting if someone in your household may be sick with RSV. This helps keep both your loved one and their co-residents healthy. 

Which adults are at risk for developing serious RSV illness?

Adults are at risk for developing serious RSV illness if they’re over 75 years old or have certain medical conditions, including:

• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

• Asthma

• Emphysema

• Interstitial lung disease

• Heart failure 

• Coronary artery disease

• Chronic kidney disease or the need for dialysis

• Chronic liver disease

• Diabetes that has caused organ damage

• Stroke that has caused trouble swallowing

• A weakened immune system

Adults at higher risk for severe RSV illness should avoid close contact with young children who have RSV or cold symptoms. This can be tricky since RSV season overlaps with many holidays, and young children are often sick during this time of year. Stay alert if you’re at high risk for serious RSV illness and take steps to keep yourself from getting sick. 

What are the signs and symptoms of RSV in adults?

Most adults with RSV develop symptoms similar to the common cold. Common RSV symptoms include:

• Congestion

• Runny nose

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Fatigue

People who develop severe RSV illness may experience additional symptoms, including:

• Severe coughing fits

• Rapid breathing

• Difficulty breathing

• Shortness of breath with mild activity

• Confusion

• Dehydration

RSV symptoms — both mild and severe — don’t appear all at once. They typically start 4 to 6 days after exposure. RSV symptoms get worse before they get better. Seek medical care if you’re having severe symptoms at any point, because they could get worse. 

Mild RSV symptoms gradually fade away and disappear within 1 to 2 weeks. More severe symptoms can take longer to go away. 

How are adults diagnosed with RSV?

Adults can be diagnosed with RSV by taking an RSV test. 

RSV testing in adults is similar to COVID-19 and flu testing. A healthcare professional will use a nasal swab to collect a sample from your nose. This sample then gets tested for RSV. 

Several types of RSV tests are available. Experts recommend the PCR test for adults. The results are available within a few hours.

At-home test kits are also available to test for RSV, flu, and COVID. You can order these kits online without a prescription. With an at-home test, you collect your own nasal swab and drop it off at a specific lab. Your results will come back within 1 or 2 days.

When should adults seek medical care for RSV?

Seek medical care right away if you develop any of the following symptoms while sick with RSV:

• Fever

• Rapid breathing

• Trouble breathing or catching your breath

• Trouble walking or speaking due to shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• High fever

• Trouble keeping down food and liquids

These are signs of severe RSV illness. Severe RSV illness can affect your lungs and put stress on your heart and other vital organs. This can lead to serious illness and even death. 

You should also seek care if you have asthma or COPD and feel like your medication isn’t working. This is also a sign that RSV could be attacking your lungs.

RSV symptoms can worsen from one day to the next. Don’t try to wait it out at home — seek care as soon as possible if you’re having any of these symptoms. 

How do you treat adult RSV?

There’s no cure for RSV, and no medication specifically treats RSV.

For mild RSV symptoms, you can use over-the-counter (OTC) medication and home remedies, like:

• Rest to help you recover

• Fluids to stay hydrated

• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for body aches or fatigue 

• Lozenges or warm/cool liquids for sore throat relief

• Nasaline saline for congestion

People with serious RSV illness often need treatment in the hospital to help them breathe. They may also need higher doses of their usual inhalers or other regular medications. Some people may receive antibiotics, steroids, or other therapies to help them recover from severe RSV illness.

How can you prevent RSV illness?

There are steps you can take to stay healthy during RSV season. To lower your risk of getting RSV:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes.

• Avoid contact with people who are sick.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. 

You should also consider getting vaccinated against RSV. Experts recommend the RSV vaccine if you:

• Are over 75 years old

• Are between 60 and 74 years old and have a medical condition that puts you at risk for severe RSV illness

You can receive the RSV vaccine at any time during the year. But it’s best to get your vaccine in the late summer or early fall when the virus is less active. 

Currently, experts recommend only one dose of the RSV vaccine. You don’t need a yearly RSV vaccine. 

If you do get sick with RSV, help protect others by staying home from work or school until:

• All your symptoms are getting better 

• You’re fever-free for 24 hours without medication

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Written by:

Meredith Grace Merkley, DO, FAAP

Dr. Merkley is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician who has over a decade of experience working in community health. She is currently a National Health Services Corp scholar, and is serving as the medical director of a school-based health clinic at a federally funded health center.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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