Diagnosis
Most people with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will simply have a runny nose and a cough, and they do not need to see a doctor. The virus generally runs its course with the help of home treatments. In fact, in otherwise healthy children, it’s often unnecessary to determine whether a child has RSV or the common cold because the treatment is the same.
But in certain cases—premature infants, children with heart and lung problems, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems—a doctor may need to determine a diagnosis to provide proper treatment or more aggressive prevention. Generally, a nasal swab or nasal wash can be analyzed for the presence of the virus. Sometimes a doctor will perform a chest X-ray or oxygen saturation test to check for lung congestion.