Most frequent complications

Lower respiratory system infections, which affect the bronchial tubes and lungs, sometimes follow infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The most common types of these infections include:

• Bronchiolitis, which is an inflammation of the small air passages (bronchioles) that usually affects children younger than 2. It is the leading cause of serious lower respiratory illness in infants.
• Pneumonia, which can make it hard to breathe and to get enough oxygen into the bloodstream because of inflammation in the lungs.

Other complications

Other health problems can also develop as a complication of RSV infection. These include:

• Ear infections (otitis media), because RSV commonly infects the middle ear.¹
• Asthma that gets worse when a child has an RSV infection.¹
• Dehydration, which can affect anyone who is too ill to absorb enough liquids.
• Collapsed lung (atelectasis), a rare condition that can arise from blocked small air passages in the lung.
• Sudden heart failure, which can result from troubled breathing. This complication is most common in older adults who have heart problems or other lung problems.