Understanding and Protecting Yourself and Others from RSV

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a virus that attacks the respiratory system. It is usually thought of as a fall/winter virus but has evolved into a year-round issue. It can be confused with a cold, flu, COVID, or other respiratory illness. It is spread by respiratory droplets from an infected person coughing or sneezing, touching a surface with the virus then your nose, eyes, mouth, or kissing an infected individual.

A very common virus that usually appears with the same symptoms as a minor cold, most individuals have had RSV and did not even know they had it as the symptoms can be mild with the body recovering on its own in a week or two. However, for infants, the elderly, or individuals with respiratory issues such as asthma, COPD, cardiac issues, or neurological diagnoses, the RSV virus can quickly evolve into bronchitis, pneumonia or even lead to death.

RSV can spread quickly and be more complicated in individuals with neurological issues including paralysis. This is because the muscles may not be functioning as strongly as needed to keep the airway clear. Not being able to breathe deeply, cough forcefully, or control secretions allows time for the virus to enter deep into the lung cells and multiply. Issues with the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as in brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, or other neurological disease may not allow time to mount a quick response for fighting the virus.

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Prevention of RSV specifically for all ages of individuals with neurological issues includes:

Exercising your lungs by deep breathing and then coughing forcefully
Several times a day, use an incentive spirometer or inhale through a large-diameter straw and slowly work your way to smaller diameter straw over time
Using the cough or sigh button if you use a mechanical ventilator
Suctioning when necessary if you use this equipment
Wash your hands and your caregiver washes their hands frequently, especially after a cough, sneeze, or before and after personal care and catheterization
Wash your hands with soap and warm water while you sing happy birthday, twice
Clean surfaces often, wash towels after use, use clean utensils, and do not share utensils or food
Isolate yourself if you are ill or do not have others that are ill in your space
Practice social distancing
Stay in well-ventilated areas
Do not smoke. Ask your healthcare professional for medical assistance to withdraw from any recreational inhalants you may use such as cigarettes, vaping, marijuana, huffing, etc
Use medically prescribed inhalers to treat lung conditions
Drink water (keeping in mind cardiac and bladder program restrictions if you have these) to keep the body including the lungs hydrated to produce thinner secretions that are easier to expel
Know infections prevalent in your area, wear a mask if necessary to prevent respiratory infections
Currently, there is no vaccine for RSV however, it will soon be here as the mRNA technique used in the development of the COVID vaccine will be used to combat RSV. In the meantime, a pneumonia vaccine can aid in the prevention of the development of pneumonia because of RSV