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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffYou may not be able to shorten the duration of a respiratory syncytial virus infection, but you can try to relieve some signs and symptoms.
If your child has the infection, do your best to comfort or distract him or her — cuddle, read a book or play a quiet game. Other tips for relieving symptoms include:
- Create moist air to breathe. Keep your room or your child's room warm but not overheated. If the air is dry, a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer can moisten the air and help ease congestion and coughing. Be sure to keep the humidifier clean, to prevent the growth of bacteria and molds. An ideal indoor humidity is around 50 percent.
- Sit in an upright position. To ease your infant's breathing, place him or her in a car seat or similar upright carrier. As usual, lay your baby faceup on a firm mattress to sleep, but put blocks or books under the head of the mattress to raise it about 3 inches (7.6 centimeters).
- Drink fluids. Warm fluids, such as a favorite soup, may be soothing and help loosen thickened secretions. If your child loves ice pops, now may be the time for a special cool treat. Keep breast-feeding or bottle-feeding your infant as you would normally. Nutrition is vital.
- Try saline nasal drops. Over-the-counter (OTC) drops are a safe, effective way to ease congestion, even for young children. Drip several drops into one nostril to loosen hardened mucus, then immediately suction that nostril, using a bulb syringe. Repeat the process in the other nostril. A good time to do this is before feedings and before putting your baby down to sleep.
- Use over-the-counter pain relievers. OTC pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may help reduce fever, relieve a sore throat and improve ability to drink fluids. Check with your doctor about age-appropriate use and doses of such medications. Don't use them to suppress low-grade fevers under 100.9 F (38.3 C).
- Eliminate exposure to cigarette smoke. Stay away from cigarette smoke because it can aggravate symptoms.
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Respiratory syncytial virus. In: Pickering LK, et al. Red Book: 2006 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 27th ed. Elk Grove, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2006. http://aapredbook.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/2006/1/3.107. Accessed June 9, 2009.
- Barr FE, et al. Clinical features and diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 15, 2009.
- Peters TR, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus. In: Long SS, et al. Principles and Practices of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/143546809-2/0/1679/229.html?tocnode=55244158&fromURL=229.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50228-9_4167. Accessed June 10, 2009.
- Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV): Infection and incidence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/infection.html. Accessed June 10, 2009.
- Busselen S. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/143685797-2/0/1701/508.html?tocnode=56571976&fromURL=508.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50021-5--subchapter11_10747. Accessed June 10, 2009.
- Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV): Transmission and prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/transmission.html. Accessed June 10, 2009.
- Perez-Yarza EG, et al. The association between respiratory syncytial virus infection and the development of childhood asthma: A systematic review of the literature. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2007;26:733.
- Barr FE, et al. Treatment and prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2009.
- Ventre K, et al. Ribavirin for respiratory syncytial virus infection of the lower respiratory tract in infants and young children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007:CD000181.
