Occurrence and Disease Course of RSV Illness in Adults

Target Audience
This educational activity is intended for US-based healthcare professionals who care for older adults, including pulmonologists, geriatricians, and additional primary care providers (family physicians, internists, physician associates, nurse practitioners and other nursing professionals, and pharmacists).

Program Overview
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious seasonal lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) characterized by cough, runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, sore throat, fatigue, decreased appetite, and fever, affecting children and adults. RSV can be particularly dangerous for older adults, who experience more severe disease as a consequence of increased vulnerability to infection. This multi-modal and interactive education will review the mechanism of RSV illness and summarize the disease burden of RSV in adults, with a focus on hospitalizations, comorbidities, and related health disparities.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

Recognize the prevalence of RSV illness in older adults
Describe the mechanism and signs/symptoms of RSV illness in older adults