US Medical Term · maternity
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
VRS (Virus Sincitial Respiratorio)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) |
| Spanish (Español) | VRS (Virus Sincitial Respiratorio) |
| Chinese (中文) | 呼吸道融合病毒 |
| Korean (한국어) | RSV (호흡기세포융합바이러스) |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Virus hợp bào hô hấp (RSV) |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) |
| Portuguese (Português) | VSR (Vírus Sincicial Respiratório) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | เชื้อไวรัส RSV |
| Japanese (日本語) | RSウイルス |
What it means
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a very common respiratory virus that infects almost all children by age 2. In most older children and adults it causes mild cold-like symptoms. However, in infants — especially those under 6 months or born prematurely — RSV can cause bronchiolitis, a serious lower airway infection with rapid breathing, wheezing, and low oxygen levels that may require hospitalization. RSV season runs from fall through spring in the US. In 2023, the FDA approved the first RSV vaccines for pregnant people and older adults, and nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is now recommended for most infants to prevent severe RSV illness.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My newborn has a runny nose and is breathing fast — could this be RSV?
Mi recién nacido tiene mocos y está respirando rápido — ¿podría ser VRS?
Is my premature baby at higher risk for serious RSV and should they get a preventive shot?
¿Mi bebé prematuro tiene mayor riesgo de VRS grave y debería recibir una inyección preventiva?
What symptoms tell me my baby with RSV needs to go to the hospital right away?
¿Qué síntomas me dicen que mi bebé con VRS necesita ir al hospital de inmediato?
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
J21 Acute bronchiolitisRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026