TRAFFIC ALERT: The west side of the Parkview Place intersection at Lakeland Hills Boulevard is under construction causing delays.
Learn More
Schedule an Appointment

RSV Answers: What Parents Need to Know

October 27, 2026

Most Floridians look forward to a change in seasons this time of year, as the heat of summer gives way to fall. But pediatricians are on high alert for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season. 

RSV is a common respiratory virus usually seen from August through late March, peaking in December and January.

So, what do you need to know about RSV, especially if you’re a new parent stepping into a world of firsts?

We asked Dr. Nicole Hinds, a pediatrician at Lakeland Regional Health’s Grasslands Campus, what parents should know about RSV in babies and older children and how to prevent it.

What is RSV?

RSV is a respiratory virus like the common cold or flu. It has been around since the 1950s and previously was considered an illness that mostly affected children, Dr. Hinds says.

Although people of any age may get RSV, it can be especially severe in infants or young children and is the leading cause of hospitalization among babies.

What are the symptoms of RSV?

In most children with healthy immune systems, RSV may seem like any other nasty cold. Typical symptoms may include:

  • A runny or stuffy nose
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Low-grade fever
  • Low appetite
  • Sore throat
  • Headache

However, Dr. Hinds notes that children with certain conditions or chronic lung disease, including asthma and cystic fibrosis, are at a higher risk of severe RSV infection.

In infants, RSV symptoms may show look a little different. Parents who notice these symptoms in their infant should call their pediatrician:

  • Irritability and fussiness
  • Decreased activity/acting tired
  • Poor appetite and/or trouble eating, drinking, or swallowing
  • Difficulty breathing or pauses in breathing
  • Frequent coughing
  • Lots of nasal drainage
  • Wheezing
  • Vomiting

Parents should seek emergency care if their baby’s symptoms get worse, such as:

  • A severe cough or wheezing
  • Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
  • A bluish color around the skin, lips or fingernails

“Although an older child can go to school and mingle with other kids and not get too sick because they have built up some immunity, if they bring RSV home to a baby, that’s another story,” Dr. Hinds says.

Very young babies have little to no immune system, so RSV can be much more severe, she says. “Children younger than 3 months are especially prone to develop respiratory failure if they become infected,” Dr. Hinds says.

How should I care for my toddler or school-age child with RSV?

“Parents who suspect their older children might have RSV should keep their kids home from school or daycare to avoid making others sick,” says Dr. Hinds.

Many older children have only congestion. Parents can focus on relieving symptoms at home with a humidifier, acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever or pain relief, and plenty of fluids.

If symptoms do not improve after a few days, parents should call their pediatrician.

What if I also have a baby at home?

“Although an older child can go to school and mingle with other kids and not get too sick because they have built up some immunity, if they bring RSV home to a baby, that’s another story,” Dr. Hinds says.

Very young babies have little to no immune system, so RSV can be much more severe, she says. “Children younger than 3 months are especially prone to develop respiratory failure if they become infected,” Dr. Hinds says.

Can I prevent my baby from getting RSV?

Yes! There are two extremely effective ways to protect very young babies from RSV:

  • If you’re expecting: A pregnant woman can receive an RSV vaccine between weeks 32 and 36 of pregnancy, triggering her body to make antibodies that she passes on to her baby before birth. That protects the infant for the first six months of their life and reduces the risk of hospitalization by 57%.
  • If you have a newborn: Babies may be given a single dose of lab-grown antibodies that offer instant protection from RSV. This protection lasts for at least five months and reduces the risk of hospitalization by 90%.

Most babies will need only one dose to protect them in their first RSV season. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children from 8 to 19 months who are at high risk receive a second immunization before their second RSV season.

“Prevention is really the key to protecting a baby from RSV,” Dr. Hinds says. “The best way to keep a newborn healthy is for the mom or baby to be vaccinated against RSV.”

Ask your pediatrician or OB-GYN about protecting your baby from RSV.

Share: