Diagnosing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Typically RSV presents within 2-5 days symptoms that resemble a common viral upper respiratory tract infection. Distinct symptoms of RSV include⁵:

• Fever
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Cough
• Wheezing
• Fast breathing
• Reduced appetite
• Apena

Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis for RSV should rule out⁶:

• Asthma
• Bronchiolitis
• Bronchitis, acute and chronic
• Croup
• Reactive airway disease
• Human metapneumovirus
• Influenza
• Neonatal sepsis
• Pneumonia

Read about testing for RSV