Learn more about RSV and uncover the risk of disease Learn more about RSV and uncover the risk of disease

Uncover the risk of RSV in infants.

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What is RSV

ABOUT RSV

RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV) IS A COMMON VIRUS THAT MAY AFFECT AND COMPROMISE THE LUNGS AND BREATHING PASSAGES OF INFANTS AND OLDER ADULTS.1,2

RSV is a highly contagious respiratory virus that typically starts circulating in November and extends into May. Although RSV season varies by geographic region, outbreaks can be serious across all age groups, causing respiratory illness ranging from mild to severe that can lead to hospitalization.2-6

Each year in Hong Kong, on average, 314 out of every 10,000 infants (aged 0-4 years) are hospitalized due to RSV infection.7

Some infants, children and adults are at risk of severe RSV infection.1,2

PREMATURE INFANTS AND THOSE 6 MONTHS AND YOUNGER1

PREMATURE INFANTS AND THOSE 6 MONTHS AND YOUNGER

CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 2 AND WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS1

CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 2 AND WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS

OLDER ADULTS (≥ 65 YEARS OLD)2

OLDER ADULTS (≥ 65 YEARS OLD)

THOSE WITH AN IMMUNODEFICIENCY1,2

THOSE WITH AN IMMUNODEFICIENCY

THOSE WITH CERTAIN UNDERLYING CONDITIONS

Such as chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease1,2

THOSE WITH CERTAIN UNDERLYING CONDITIONS

Learn more about RSV in high-risk adults

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RSV in the US

hospitalization.svg/ hospitalization/76/135

The highest rates of hospitalization for RSV in children

occur in infants less than 3 months old with the peak occurring between 1 and 2 months8,9*

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RSV surveillance for infants 0-6 months

(unpublished data, 2016-2022).

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Each year, RSV leads to

100-300 deaths in children ≤5 years10

UNDERSTAND THE BURDEN THAT RSV CAN BE

Watch this patient testimonies to find out how RSV has affected the daily lives of many.
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UNDERSTAND THE BURDEN THAT RSV CAN BE

RSV SYMPTOMS: FROM MILD AND MODERATE TO SEVERE

EARLY SYMPTOMS

At the onset, RSV may not be severe for infants and young children. However, it can become more severe in just a few days, with early symptoms that may include1:
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Runny nose
decreased-appetite.svg/Decreased appetite/112/152
Decreased appetite
cough.svg/Cough, which may progress to wheezing or difficulty breathing/73/156

Cough, which may

progress to wheezing or difficulty breathing

RSV IN INFANTS (<6 MONTHS)

INFANTS THIS YOUNG WITH RSV ALMOST ALWAYS SHOW ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS WITH OR WITHOUT FEVER1,4:

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Irritability
decreased-activity.svg/Decreased activity/153/111
Decreased activity
appetite.svg/Decreased appetite/99/111
Decreased appetite
apnea.svg/Apnea (temporary cessation of breathing)/94/111
Apnea (temporary cessation of breathing)
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severe-rsv

Severe RSV

SEVERE RSV

Those infected with RSV may recover in a week or two. However, some infants may suffer more severe RSV symptoms that lead to bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and maybe even hospitalization.1,11,12

RSV IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF BRONCHIOLITIS IN INFANTS THAT MAY RESULT IN RESPIRATORY FAILURE AND MORTALITY.12,13

RSV can be especially serious or deadly in infants because it is associated with bronchiolitis that can lead to12,14:
lungs.svg/Acute respiratory failure with severe bronchospasm /130/120

Acute respiratory failure

with severe bronchospasm

Moderate to severe Hypoxia ((Low levels of oxygen in one’s body tissues)

Moderate to severe

Hypoxia (Low levels of oxygen in one’s body tissues)

Carbon dioxide retention

Carbon dioxide

retention

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, VIRTUALLY EVERY CHILD WILL GET RSV BY THE TIME THEY ARE 2 YEARS OLD. 1

Stop the spread of RSV

Despite the burden of RSV, RSV is mainly tackled by supportive care like drinking more fluids18, and there is no widely accessible specific prevention option, but we can still stop the spread of RSV at home and at school.1,2,15

You can:

children-coughs.svg/Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing/34/75
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
children-wash.svg/Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing /36/75
Wash your hands frequently with water and soap
children-avoid-close.svg/ Avoid close contact with those showing symptoms of flu/78/75
Avoid close contact with those showing symptoms of flu
children-clean.svg/Clean and sanitize surfaces frequently/31/75
Clean and sanitize surfaces frequently

Wellness Information

GET READY TO UNCOVER MORE ABOUT RSV. TAKE THIS QUIZ TO TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

WHO CAN GET INFECTED WITH RSV?

People of all age, both healthy and with certain underlying conditions, are potentially susceptible to RSV.1,2,14

Correct!

This is true.

In a cross-sectional study of mortality from RSV and influenza in the US from 1999 to 2018, RSV exhibited higher mortality rates than influenza in infants <1 year of age.15*

Correct!

*From a cross-sectional study that estimated that a mean of 6549 underlying respiratory deaths were associated with RSV annually, including 96 deaths among children <1 year. There were 10,171 underlying respiratory deaths associated with influenza annually, including 23 deaths among children <1 year. Statistical analysis was performed for 1043 weeks, from Jan 3 1999 to Dec 29 2018.15

Sorry!
This is actually true.

*From a cross-sectional study that estimated that a mean of 6549 underlying respiratory deaths were associated with RSV annually, including 96 deaths among children <1 year. There were 10,171 underlying respiratory deaths associated with influenza annually, including 23 deaths among children <1 year. Statistical analysis was performed for 1043 weeks, from Jan 3 1999 to Dec 29 2018.15

Infants are at increased risk of RSV infection as their antibody responses are blunted and have easily inflamed and congested respiratory tracts.16,17

In infants, RSV has caused approximately16:
  • 40%-90% of bronchiolitis-related hospitalizations
  • Up to 50% of pneumonia-related hospitalizations

Which of the following statements on infant RSV infection in Hong Kong are correct?

  • Each year in Hong Kong, on average, 314 out of every 10,000 infants (aged 0-4 years) are hospitalized due to RSV infection.7
  • Approximately 37% of infants (aged 0-4 years) hospitalised due to respiratory illness had an RSV infection.7
  • All of the above.

Correct!
Both Answers are true.

That is incorrect.
Both Answers are true.

WHAT IS RSV?

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a highly contagious virus. While most people experience mild symptoms that resolve on their own. RSV-associated acute respiratory infection can in some cases cause severe respiratory symptoms.2,3,6

RSV CAN BE EASILY MISTAKEN FOR INFLUENZA3

Like influenza, RSV is an RNA virus that is spread through close contact with infected individuals or contact with a contaminated surface. RSV incidence also tends to overlap with influenza season, typically occurring between late fall and early spring in the US.1,4

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW RSV AFFECTS INFANTS AND CHILDREN.

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RSV affects not only infants.

Learn more about RSV in adults

For more information on infant RSV infection, please visit the Centre of Health Protection website. Visit chp.gov.

CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RSV in infants and young children. Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/downloads/RSV-in-Infants-and-Young-Children.pdf 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Older adults are at a high risk for severe RSV infection. Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/factsheet-older-adults.pdf 3. Bueno SM, González PA, Cautivo KM, et al. Protective T cell immunity against respiratory syncytial virus is efficiently induced by recombinant BCG. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008;105(52):20822-20827. 4. Talbot HK, Belongia EA, Walsh EE, Schaffner W. Respiratory syncytial virus in older adults: a hidden annual epidemic. Infect Dis Clin Pract (Baltim Md). 2016;24:295-302. 5. Hartnett J, Donga P, Ispas G, et al. Risk factors and medical resource utilization in US adults hospitalized with influenza or respiratory syncytial virus in the Hospitalized Acute Respiratory Tract Infection study. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2022;16(5):906-915. 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV): for healthcare providers. Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/clinical/index.html 7. Chan PKS, Tam WWS, Lee TC, et al. Hospitalization Incidence, Mortality, and Seasonality of Common Respiratory Viruses Over a Period of 15 Years in a Developed Subtropical City. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94(46):e2024. Doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000002024 8. McMorrow M. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) seasonality in the United States and the burden of RSV in children. Oral presentation at: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) general meeting; June 2022; Atlanta, GA. 9. Hall CB, Weinberg GA, Blumkin AK, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus-associated hospitalizations among children less than 24 months of age. Pediatrics. 2013;132(2):e341-e348. 10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RSV surveillance and research. Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/research/index.html 11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV). Accessed May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html 12. Jain H, Schweitzer JW, Justice NA. Respiratory syncytial virus infection. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; November 8, 2022. 13. Piedimonte G, Perez MK. Respiratory syncytial virus infection and bronchiolitis [published correction appears in Pediatr Rev. 2015;36(2):85]. Pediatr Rev. 2014;35(12):519-530. 14. McNamara PS, Smyth RL. The pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus disease in childhood. Br Med Bull. 2002;61:13-28. 15. Hall CB, Weinberg GA, Iwane MK, et al. The burden of respiratory syncytial virus infection in young children. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(6):588-598. 16. Hansen CL, Chaves SS, Demont C, Viboud C. Mortality associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the US, 1999-2018. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2):e220527. 17. Walsh EE, Hall CB. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 2015:1948-1960. 18. Gatt D, Martin I, AlFouzan R, Moraes TJ. Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Pathogens. 2023;12(2):154. Published 2023 Jan 17.