US Medical Term · maternity
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
VRS (Virus Sincitial Respiratorio)
What it means
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus. It usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but it can cause serious lung infections, especially in infants, older adults, and people with serious medical problems. RSV can affect people of all ages and is very common in small children; nearly all children become infected with RSV by age 2. In the United States, RSV infections usually occur during RSV season, which is usually fall through spring. RSV can also cause more severe infections such as bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lung, and pneumonia, an infection of the lungs. A lab test of nasal fluid or another respiratory specimen can check for RSV. Emergency signs such as trouble breathing need urgent care (call 911 in the U.S.).
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) in Spanish
- Spanish term
- VRS (Virus Sincitial Respiratorio)
- Gender and article
- masculine: el VRS, el virus sincitial respiratorio
- Pronunciation
- beh EH-rreh EH-seh (BEE-roos seen-see-TYAHL rrehs-pee-rah-TOH-ryoh)
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| virus respiratorio sincitial | General | Word order MedlinePlus en español uses as the title of its health topic page and throughout that page. |
| virus sincicial respiratorio (VSR) | General | Spelling with c and the abbreviation VSR, used as the title of the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia article. |
| virus sincicial | General | Short form listed among the other names on the MedlinePlus en español health topic page. |
The headword VRS (virus sincitial respiratorio) matches one of the names on MedlinePlus en español: its health topic page lists virus sincitial respiratorio and virus sincicial under other names. That page is titled Virus respiratorio sincitial and says the virus is also known as virus respiratorio sincicial, spelled with a c. The MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia article is titled Virus sincicial respiratorio (VSR); it writes the abbreviation VSR, and the form VRS also appears in it. All of these forms are masculine: el VRS, el virus.
Words MedlinePlus en español uses alongside it are bronquiolitis (bronchiolitis), neumonía (pneumonia), tos (cough), estornudos (sneezing) and dificultad para respirar (trouble breathing). RSV season is temporada de virus respiratorio sincitial, and a person who can spread the virus is described as contagiosa.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | My baby has a cough and a fever, and she is eating less than usual. | Mi bebé tiene tos y fiebre, y está comiendo menos de lo habitual. |
| Clinician | Has anyone at home or at daycare had RSV or a cold? | ¿Alguien en casa o en la guardería ha tenido el VRS o un resfriado? |
| Patient | Yes, her older brother has had a cold since last week. | Sí, su hermano mayor tiene un resfriado desde la semana pasada. |
| Clinician | Do you hear a whistling sound when your baby breathes? | ¿Oye un silbido cuando su bebé respira? |
| Clinician | We are going to take a sample of fluid from the nose to test for RSV. | Vamos a tomar una muestra de líquido de la nariz para hacer la prueba del VRS. |
| Patient | The test was positive for RSV. How long is my child contagious? | La prueba dio positivo para el VRS. ¿Por cuánto tiempo puede contagiar mi hijo o hija? |
| Patient | Is there an RSV vaccine for people my age? I am 67. | ¿Hay una vacuna contra el VRS para personas de mi edad? Tengo 67 años. |
| Clinician | If your baby has trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. | Si su bebé tiene dificultad para respirar, llame al 911 o vaya a la sala de emergencias de inmediato. |
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 |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: J21 → Acute bronchiolitisRelated terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Lungs and breathing
All terms in this area: Lungs and breathing — Pulmones y respiración
Sources
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Virus respiratorio sincitial — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (Medical Encyclopedia) — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Virus sincicial respiratorio (VSR) (Enciclopedia médica) — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 7, 2026