Getting medical attention when your baby is sick

If your baby is considered to be at high risk for serious complications from an RSV infection, it's important that you contact your doctor if your baby begins to develop any symptoms. While there is no cure for RSV infections, your baby's doctor can recommend ways to make your baby more comfortable and let you know what signs to look out for that indicate the infection is becoming more serious.

If your baby experiences difficulty breathing, develops a high fever, or his skin turns bluish, seek immediate medical attention.

Your baby's doctor may diagnose an RSV infection based on the symptoms and the time of year, though there are also tests that can be used to confirm a diagnosis. Your baby's doctor can make a diagnosis based on laboratory tests that look for the presence of RSV in mucus from your baby's nose or by testing for antibodies in your baby's blood. Chest x-rays and a test that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood are also sometimes used.