Treatment Options

Helping Yourself

Preventing the spread of RSV to other infants, children and adults is very important. If your child is in the hospital, healthcare professionals will take proper precautions to ensure that others do not become infected with the virus. If your child is at home and is infected with RSV, proper and frequent hand washing can help prevent the spread of RSV to others. Make sure that anyone who touches the child washes his or her hands with soap and warm water. The infected baby or child should not be exposed to second-hand smoke because tobacco smoke can worsen RSV symptoms.

Other simple actions parents can take to help their children avoid being infected with RSV include the following:

• Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and dispose of it right away
• If possible, try to keep your baby away from people with coughs or colds, especially during the winter months.
• Wash toys used by children who have symptoms of a cold.

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.