Human respiratory syncytial virus overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus of the family Paramyxoviridae, which includes common respiratory viruses such as those causing measles and mumps. RSV is a member of the paramyxovirus subfamily Pneumovirinae.

For most people, RSV produces only mild symptoms, often indistinguishable from common colds and minor illnesses.

As the virus is ubiquitous in all parts of the world, avoidance of infection is not possible.

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