RSV infection

Question 1

What kind of infection is this?

Answer 1

Lower respiratory tract infection

Question 2

Who does RSV infection affect and what does it cause?

Answer 2

Infants - bronchiolitis

Question 3

What type of pathogen causes RSV infection

Answer 3

RNA virus

Question 4

When is RSV infection most common?

Answer 4

Winter

Question 5

What is the pathophys of RSV?

Answer 5

RSV infection can develop into bronchiolitis

Starts in upper resp and then spreads into lower tract

Bronchioles get infected = inflammation = mucus build-up

Question 6

What increases ones risk of developing RSV?

Answer 6

• Underweight
• Chronic lung disease
• Premature disease
• Low socioeconomic status
• Maternal smoking
• Immunocompromised

Question 7

How can you tell a child has a RSV infection?

Answer 7

Infants - wet cough, rhinorrhoea, fever, wheezing

Difficulty feeding, breathing and reduced appetite

Question 8

How can you tell an adult has RSV infection? What are the presentations?

Answer 8

similar to cold symptoms
sore throat, cough, runny nose, malaise, headache and fever

Question 9

How would you investigate RSV infection?

Answer 9

Clinical diagnosis

Swabbing nasopharynx and screening

Question 10

How is RSV infection managed?

Answer 10

• Self-limiting
• Maintain hydration and oxygenation
• IV fluids - if RR is more than 80/min
• Intubation and ventilatory assistance - for severe hypoxia
• If arterial oxygen tension is low or low saturation (below 90%) - humidified oxygen

Question 11

What complications can arise from RSV infection?

Answer 11

Pneumonia

Bronchiolitis