RSV Season: What Parents Need to Know

What is RSV?

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. In older kids and adults, it usually looks like a simple cold. In babies and young children especially under age 1, it can cause more serious breathing problems like bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways) or pneumonia.

How We Treat RSV at Home

• Even with prevention, RSV infections will still happen. For most children, RSV is managed at home with supportive care. This means we focus on helping them breathe comfortably and stay hydrated while their body fights the virus. There is no quick antiviral "cure" for RSV.

1. Helping them breathe: saline & suction

Babies are "obligate nose breathers," especially in the first months of life, so a stuffy nose makes everything harder—feeding, sleeping, and breathing.

At home we often recommend:

• Saline drops or spray in the nostrils to loosen mucus.
• Gentle suction with a bulb syringe or nasal suction device, especially before feeds and sleep.
• Humidifier in the room to keep the air moist, which can make breathing more comfortable.

2. Keeping them comfortable: Tylenol and Motrin

Fever is common with RSV. To keep kids comfortable:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used for fever or discomfort. If under 2 months or unvaccinated do not administer without seeing your doctor first.
• Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) can be used in children 6 months and older.

Always:

• Dose based on your child's weight, not age alone.
• Ask your pediatrician if you're unsure about dosing or timing.

3. Fluids & feeding

• Offer frequent small feeds; whether breastmilk, formula, or fluids appropriate for their age.
• Fewer wet diapers, refusing to drink, or dry lips/mouth can be signs of dehydration and are reasons to call your pediatrician.

When We Worry: Signs of Increased Work of Breathing

The main thing pediatricians focus on with RSV is how hard your child is working to breathe. This is often more important than the number on the thermometer.

Signs of increased work of breathing

Call your pediatrician urgently, or seek emergency care, if you see:

• Breathing much faster than usual (especially if they're too tired to feed or interact).
• Retractions – the skin pulling in with each breath:
  • Above the breastbone (suprasternal)
  • Between the ribs (intercostal)
  • Under the ribcage (subcostal / substernal)
• Nasal flaring – nostrils widen with each breath.
• Grunting or noisy breathing with each exhale.
• Head bobbing in infants.
• Color changes – lips or face looking dusky or bluish.
• Lethargy – much sleepier than usual, hard to wake, or not making eye contact.

Here is a typical illustration showing the main spots where we see "retractions" when a baby is working hard to breathe:

Prevention: RSV Protection with Beyfortus

The biggest shift in RSV care over the past few years is that we now have a way to help prevent severe RSV in infants, not just treat it once they're sick.

What is Beyfortus?

Beyfortus (generic name nirsevimab) is a long-acting monoclonal antibody—essentially, it's a ready-made dose of RSV-fighting antibodies given as a single shot. Instead of teaching your baby's immune system to make its own antibodies (like a vaccine does), Beyfortus directly provides the antibodies that block RSV from infecting the lungs.

Key points for parents:

• Who is it for?

  • Most babies under 8 months who are born during or entering their first RSV season are recommended to receive an RSV antibody shot like nirsevimab, depending on factors such as whether the birthing parent received the maternal RSV vaccine.

• How often is it given?

  • It's one injection per RSV season. Protection lasts at least about 5 months, which typically covers the peak RSV months.

• What does it do?

  • It significantly lowers the risk of severe RSV disease, including hospitalizations and ICU stays.

In practical terms:
If you have a baby under 8 months heading into RSV season, this is the main tool we have to reduce their risk of serious illness. Talk with your pediatrician about whether Beyfortus is right for your child and how to time it for the season.

How Core Care Pediatrics Makes RSV Season Easier

RSV is stressful especially with a newborn or young infant. One of the biggest advantages of a membership-based practice like Core Care Pediatrics is that you're not navigating it alone.

With Core Care Pediatrics, families have:

• Direct access to Dr. Hinrichs

  • Text or send videos of your child's breathing so we can see what you're seeing in real time.
  • Quick answers to "Is this normal?" instead of waiting on hold or sitting in a crowded waiting room with a sick baby.

• Home visits

  • For infants who are wheezy, working harder to breathe, or not feeding well, being able to examine them in your home can make a huge difference in comfort and safety.

• Close follow-up

  • RSV symptoms often peak around days 3–5 of illness. We can check in regularly by message, phone, or video to watch trends of breathing, feeding, and hydration. That way we can catch any worsening early and help decide whether you can safely stay home or need higher-level care.

• Preventive care built in

  • We discuss RSV prevention with Beyfortus ahead of the season, plan timing, and make sure eligible infants are protected as early as possible.

Instead of fragmented, rushed care, you have a pediatrician who knows your child, your family, and your comfort level—and who walks through RSV season with you.

If you are:

• Expecting a baby this winter,
• Have a newborn or infant under 8 months, or
• Just want a more personal, accessible pediatric home for your children,

I'd love to meet your family and talk through RSV prevention, what to watch for, and how Core Care Pediatrics can support you through every cough and cold season.

Book a free intro call with Core Care Pediatrics to learn more about membership, Beyfortus, and how house-call pediatrics can bring calmer, clearer care to RSV season and beyond.

This blog is for general educational purposes and does not replace personalized medical advice. Always contact your pediatrician or seek emergency care if you are concerned about your child's breathing or overall condition.