Evidence shows that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can have lasting effects long after the acute infection and hospital care end. A study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases examined adults hospitalised with RSV and found that many continued to experience serious problems for months after discharge.
Common long-term issues included persistent breathlessness and difficulty performing routine daily activities, and some people remained unwell for as long as a year. These ongoing symptoms can reduce quality of life and raise the need for medical care and practical support after hospital discharge, adding to the burden on health services.
While adults over age 65 make up the largest proportion of RSV deaths, followed by young children, the research shows that adults of other ages also face a risk of serious illness and prolonged recovery. It is not yet clear how common long-term problems are in each age group or which patients recover more quickly.
The study was led by Aleda Leis at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and was funded by the CDC. The authors highlight vaccination and other public health measures as ways to reduce severity and say further work is needed to define effective follow-up care and to identify who is most at risk of prolonged illness.
- Lingering breathlessness and fatigue
- Difficulty with daily tasks
- Increased need for medical follow-up
Difficult words
- respiratory — relating to breathing and the lungs
- infection — illness caused by germs entering the body
- hospitalise — to admit someone to hospital for treatmenthospitalised
- discharge — official release from hospital or care
- persistent — continuing for a long time without stopping
- prolonged — lasting longer than expected or usual
- burden — a heavy load of work or responsibility
- vaccination — injection or treatment to prevent an infection
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could ongoing breathlessness and difficulty with daily tasks affect a person’s quality of life and work?
- What kinds of medical follow-up and practical support might help people after hospital discharge for RSV?
- Given the article, which groups should be prioritised for vaccination and why?
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