Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

There are many things you can do at home to help a child with a mild case of RSV feel better:

• Give plenty of clear fluids to prevent dehydration — diluted juice, water and popsicles, Pedialyte or another electrolyte drink for children — to prevent dehydration.
• Use a cool-mist vaporizer to humidify the air, soothe irritated breathing passages and relieve coughing.
• Use saline (salt water) nose drops to loosen mucus in the nose (you buy these at the drugstore over the counter).
• For children who are too young to blow their nose, use a nasal aspirator to remove sticky nasal fluids.
• Treat fever using a non-aspirin fever medicine like acetaminophen (for example, Children's Tylenol or Tempra). Never give a child or teen acetylsalicylic acid (also called ASA or aspirin).