Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a contagious, viral disease that is spread through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva and mucus. It is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (an infection of the small breathing tubes in the lungs) and pneumonia in children less than 1 year. Almost 100 percent of children have had RSV by age 2. RSV can be very harmful to children who are born premature (< 36 week gestational age) due to their lungs not having the full term of pregnancy to develop. This can lead to an increased risk of hospitalizations and more serious complications.

Important points about RSV

• RSV is often a seasonal illness, with the most significant increase typically during the months between October and March.
• Similar to a cold, RSV can be spread by sneezing, coughing, or by physical contact such as kissing, touching, or shaking hands.
• Most cases of RSV infections cause minor upper respiratory illnesses, such as colds and cold-like symptoms.
• Most children usually show symptoms of RSV within 4 to 6 days, and most recover in 1 to 2 weeks. However, the virus can continue to be spread for 1 to 3 weeks.
• Symptoms of RSV include but are not limited to the following: persistent coughing, wheezing, rapid breathing or other breathing problems, sneezing, runny nose, decrease in appetite, and fever.
• RSV can live for up to 6 to 7 hours on countertops, toys, and other surfaces and spreads very quickly in daycare centers and crowded households.

Goals of Therapy

• There are several preventative steps to decrease the risk of spreading RSV to others: cover mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing, wash hands often with soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds, avoid sharing cups and eating utensils, wash infants' hands often and wash hands before touching an infant, isolate infants from situations where they may become exposed, and avoid sharing pacifiers, pillows, and blankets.
• The above steps are necessary in the prevention of RSV; however, if you have an infant that was born premature, other medical options may be necessary to make sure they are fully protected.

Synagis®

• Synagis® is a medication that is injected into the muscle once monthly during the peak RSV season to help prevent premature infants from developing RSV and lowering their risk for being hospitalized with this illness.
• Synagis® is NOT a vaccine and it does not treat an active case of RSV, but it is another type of product that helps prevent serious lower respiratory tract infections in at risk infants that are caused by RSV
• Synagis® has very few side effects and is given by a doctor or nurse at their office or in a patient's home. It is very important for patients to get every dose recommended by their doctor in order to have the best protection during RSV season.
• For more information on Synagis® or for support for families, please visit www.synagis.com or contact MedImmune customer support at 888-371-6334.

The information provided above is educational material and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. You should discuss the information and how it may be applicable to you with your healthcare provider. For MedfusionRx patients if you have any questions about your medication or the side effects, please see the contact us page for your pharmacy number. For more information on dosing, precautions, warnings, interactions and contraindications for a specific medication, please refer to the product information (prescribing information) provided with your medication.