RSV: New treatment explained & humidifiers for nighttime symptom relief

As families celebrate (and students bemoan) fall’s return to school, another familiar phenomenon is just around the corner: cold and flu season.

Learn how you can prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the number-one reason babies under 1 year old are hospitalized every year. If your kids do fall ill with RSV (a safe bet by age 2), don’t fret, as there are several ways to help them feel more comfortable during their recovery.

Every day, pulmonologists at Mary Bridge Children’s help families breathe easier with diagnostics and support for chronic conditions, from asthma to cystic fibrosis. These airway experts examine children’s lung function, testing how much air they’re able to move in and out, and how quickly. They listen for the sounds of wheezing and crackling, which can signal lung abnormalities.

With a little of their expertise, sick kids, families and caregivers can breathe easier, too, and get better rest while recuperating at home.

What is RSV?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a contagious viral infection that affects almost all children before they turn 2 years old. The virus spreads through infected saliva, mucus or nasal discharge and mimics cold symptoms at onset.

The course of illness can last one to two weeks, with common cold symptoms generally peaking between day three to five. They include:

• Runny nose
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Poor appetite
• Fever (temperature of 100.4 or higher)
• Wheezing

While most children clear the virus on their own, some can become very sick with RSV. Infections can move deeper into the chest and lungs to cause bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

Jump to Know when to see a doctor to check for serious symptoms.

RSV immunization for babies & high-risk children

RSV vaccinations have proven up to 90 percent effective in preventing babies from being hospitalized with RSV.

In June 2025, clesrovimab — a more effective protection for infants under 8 months — was added to nirsevimab, which first became available in 2023.

Both options replace palivizumab — the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) prior, short-acting recommendation, which had been designated for high-risk infants only.

While not technically vaccines, the current recommendations for RSV (clesrovimab and nirsevimab) are both antibody treatments that are often grouped with vaccines due to their preventive role.

It’s great news to have multiple options, but it’s still important to ask your pediatrician which option will best protect your child:

1. The earliest option vaccinates pregnant moms who share RSV immunity with their developing baby. This maternal vaccine is given from September through January to moms at 32-36 weeks whose due date falls within RSV season.
2. The second option provides protection to infants born during RSV season (October through April) to moms who didn’t get the maternal vaccine. It is usually administered shortly after birth. Both clesrovimab or nirsevimab are safe for newborns.
3. Children between 8-19 months who have high risk of severe RSV infections and are entering their second RSV season (October through April) should receive nirsevimab, as the new option (clesrovimab) is not suited for this age group.

How to treat respiratory symptoms at home

For colds, flu and RSV, no medicines will eliminate the viruses — but there are ways to help your child feel better as their body fights off the infection:

• Rest and hydrate. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated; watch for signs of dehydration in young children, which can include dry lips and mouth, crying without tears and infrequent urination.
• Try honey. Mix honey with warm liquids to ease coughing (but do not give honey to children under the age of 1).

• Clear congestion with a “snot sucker,” or bulb syringe, and saline drops. This can relieve pressure for younger children who have difficulty blowing their nose.
• Use a humidifier. A cool-mist humidifier or steamy baths can help relieve cough symptoms and thin mucus (but do not use vaporizers, as they pose burn risks).

How humidifiers can help cold symptoms for better sleep during RSV season

Cool-mist humidifiers are a common tool recommended by pulmonologists to soothe irritated airways and loosen hard-to-reach congestion.

They work by circulating moist air, which can make coughs more productive and shrink swollen nasal passages. The heavy water droplets released by humidifiers dampen and push airborne particles to the ground, removing potential irritants for those with allergies, cystic fibrosis or reduced lung function.

When choosing and using a humidifier, remember they are not all made (or maintained) the same:

• Keep it cool. The cool-mist variety are the safest option for families, so stay away from warm-mist vaporizers, which can cause burns.
• Use distilled water. Cool-mist humidifiers don’t boil water, so they should be used with distilled water to avoid bacteria and mold.
• Don’t pass 50 percent humidity. Higher levels of moisture can promote unwelcome biological organisms to grow in your home. If you see water condensation inside your windows or notice dampness around the humidifier, lower the output setting or reduce use.
• Dump tanks after use. Water left in the unit for extended periods of time increases the chances of contamination.
• Remember to clean the humidifier. Regular cleanings following the manufacturer’s instructions are important to ensure the humidifier spreads clean water and not germs. Once or twice a week, disassemble the unit’s internal parts, scrub or remove scale, and finish with an antibacterial wipe-down. Reassemble with clean hands and wait to refill the tank until use.

Know when to see a doctor

You know your child best. Andrea Donalty, MD, is primary care medical director for Mary Bridge Children’s who routinely sees children with RSV as a pediatrician at Mary Bridge Children’s Pediatrics – Union Avenue. She always advises parents to trust themselves when it comes to questioning whether a child needs medical attention.

“Those parental instincts kick in, and more times than not, they’re correct,” says Andrea. “Never hesitate to call your pediatrician for advice, and always be on the alert if your child shows signs of advanced illness.”

Watch how your baby inhales. Are they using their abdomen muscles to breathe? These extra-effort muscles suck their chest in underneath their ribs and form a V-shaped depression above their collarbone; both are reliable signs of RSV.

Get your child seen by a doctor or other health care provider when this and/or other advanced illness symptoms are present:

• Breathing trouble: Rapid breaths; stomach breathing or grunting while breathing; flaring nostrils; blue lips or skin; difficulty breathing and drinking simultaneously; lethargy.
• Dehydration: Decrease in wet diapers, urine output; dry mouth; lethargy.
• Pain and secondary infections: Complaints of pain in ears, chest or sinuses; symptoms of ear infection or pneumonia.

Test your knowledge of RSV symptoms, causes & prevention

Check your RSV understanding with this interactive quiz from the AAP.