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RSV Testing

RSV Testing Clinic in Niagara Falls, NY

RSV testing is important as it can be a serious issue for children and individuals with weaker immune systems. RSV testing aids in the diagnosis of the infection in people experiencing moderate to severe symptoms and a lower respiratory tract infection. Walk-ins are welcome! For more information, please contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 3117 Military Road Suite 2, Niagara Falls, NY 14304.

RSV Testing Clinic Near Me in Niagara Falls, NY
RSV Testing Clinic Near Me in Niagara Falls, NY

Table of Contents:

What are the first symptoms of RSV?
What is the difference between a cold and RSV?
When should I get my child tested for RSV?
How contagious is RSV?
How do you test for RSV at Niagara Falls Urgent Care?

What are the first symptoms of RSV?


As with mild cold symptoms, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection(RSV) begins with congestion, runny nose, fever, cough, and sore throat. There may be breathing difficulties in very young infants, as well as irritability and fatigue. In most cases, these symptoms will disappear on their own within a few days.

One of the first signs of a serious illness is a barking or wheezing cough. It is most common when the virus enters the lungs through the small airways entering the lungs, causing inflammation. Pneumonia and bronchitis can result from this.

The breathing of infants with severe RSV will be short, shallow, and rapid. The chest will cave in between the ribs and under the ribs (chest wall retractions), the nostrils will flare out when you breathe, and breathing will be abnormally fast. They may also develop bluish tongues, lips, and fingernails as a result of insufficient oxygen.

What is the difference between a cold and RSV?


In the same way that a cold or flu spreads through the air, RSV also spreads through direct contact, like when you cough or sneeze. There is usually a three to eight-day contagious period with RSV.

It is not uncommon for RSV to cause nothing more than a cold in babies and young children. A child younger than one-year-old is most likely to suffer from bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, and pneumonia as a result of this infection.

Symptoms of RSV include coughing, sneezing, and a fever, which are commonly mistaken for symptoms of the common cold. Especially if a child is in daycare or school, these symptoms are very common in young children. At the highest risk for developing RSV are babies born prematurely, children under two with heart or lung disease, and children under 10 weeks old.

When should I get my child tested for RSV?


It is important to test infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems who have moderate to severe respiratory infections and symptoms such as runny noses, congestion, coughing, and difficulty breathing during RSV season (late fall through early spring in the U.S.).

Most people recover from an RSV infection without the need to seek medical attention or be tested. It may be necessary to test infants, children with heart or lung problems, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems because these groups are particularly vulnerable. The RSV virus can cause pneumonia and bronchiolitis, which results in inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, in these high-risk groups.

How contagious is RSV?


Viruses such as RSV are highly contagious. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, droplets can be released into the air, and contaminated surfaces, such as counters or doorknobs (where it can survive for hours), can also spread it. Direct contact with a child who has RSV can also spread it.

After exposure to RSV, people are contagious for three to eight days. Due to their weakened immune systems, infants and others with weakened immune systems are contagious for up to four weeks after they show no signs of infection.

Fall, winter, and spring are the most common seasons for RSV infections in the U.S.

How do you test for RSV at Niagara Falls Urgent Care?


It is not uncommon for people to catch colds. You should be aware that cold symptoms may sometimes be the symptom of something more serious if you are the parent of a baby.

Cold-like symptoms are usually caused by RSV, a common respiratory virus. RSV can be life-threatening for infants even though most adults recover within a week or two.

Typically, RSV is tested with a mouth swab or a blood test to check white blood cell counts and look for viruses. Additional testing may be needed in severe cases of RSV that require hospitalization.

Complications with the lungs can be checked through imaging tests, such as a chest X-ray or CT scan.

RSV testing is available at Niagara Falls Urgent Care. For more information, please contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 3117 Military Road Suite 2, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. We serve patients from Niagara Falls NY, Lewiston NY, Walmore NY, Tonawanda NY, Sanborn NY, Model City NY, Youngstown NY, Ransomville NY, and Grand Island NY.