Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus, typically causing infection in children during the colder months. In most cases, RSV causes a mild illness, with symptoms similar to that of a regular cold.
But it can also cause lung infections, such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia, especially in infants, premature babies and children with underlying health problems. It is the most common cause of hospital admission in young children, with around 26,000 children under the age of two admitted to hospital with RSV every year in the UK alone.
