RSV Testing Fountain City TN – 5150 N Broadway St – AFC Urgent Care
Our AFC clinic on N Broadway offers the most accurate rapid RSV test near you. Results usually under 30 minutes after being seen. Most insurance covers test cost.
Does AFC Fountain City offer RSV testing?
Rapid Testing for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is now available at our Fountain City location. We offer a Rapid Molecular RSV test, which is the most accurate type of rapid RSV test available. Molecular RSV tests are typically available in 30 minutes or less after being seen. No appointment is required for the test, and you will receive your results before you leave our office.
AFC Urgent Care only sees patients that are 6 months of age or older.
What is RSV ?
RSV is a leading cause of severe respiratory illness in young children in the United States. Every year, RSV leads to around 58,000 hospitalizations and 100 to 300 deaths in children under 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus is highly contagious and is most commonly spread through the air. It can also be spread through contact with saliva, mucus, or blood. RSV is also spread through contact with surfaces and objects contaminated with the virus. The virus can cause severe respiratory illness, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia, and can be especially dangerous for infants and young children.
What are the symptoms of RSV?
Typical symptoms include fever, coughing, and chest pain.
More serious symptoms include:
- Fever
- Wheezing
- Serious cough
- Breathing faster than normal or trouble breathing
- Blue skin color
In infants, the only symptoms of RSV may be:
- Acting cranky or irritable
- Moving less than usual
- Lack of appetite
- Pauses in breathing
- AFC Urgent Care only sees patients that are 6 months of age or older
RSV isn’t just for kids – adults can get it too, although it’s much less common. The infection usually goes away on its own in healthy adults within five days. Symptoms include a runny nose, cough, headache, fatigue, and fever.
Are there certain people or groups at more risk of getting RSV?
People who are at higher risk include:
- Infants, especially those 6 months and younger.
- Older adults, especially those 65 years and older.
- People with heart or lung diseases.
- People with weakened immune systems.
Why do I need an RSV test?
If you have a runny nose, sneeze, or headache, you might need an RSV test. RSV is a virus that causes these symptoms. If you’re an infant, younger child, or adult over age 65 and you have symptoms of a moderate or serious infection, you might need one.
- Fever
- Wheezing
- Serious cough
- Breathing faster than normal or trouble breathing
- Blue skin color
In infants 6 months of age or younger, the only symptoms of RSV may be:
- Acting cranky or irritable
- Moving less than usual
- Lack of appetite
- Pauses in breathing
What happens during an RSV test?
An RSV test is a quick and easy way to check for the presence of the RSV virus. A health care professional will use a special swab to take a sample from your nose, and the results will be available in 30 minutes or less.
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
An RSV test is easy and requires no special preparation.An RSV test can help you and your health provider determine the best course of treatment for your symptoms. It can also help rule out other illnesses that may be causing your symptoms.
Are there any risks to the test?
RSV testing is very safe. The only side effect is that you might feel like you’re going to gag or be briefly uncomfortable when your nose is swabbed.
What do the results mean?
A negative result means that no signs of the RSV virus were found in your sample. It may mean that another illness is causing your symptoms.When the result is positive, it means you probably have an RSV infection. If babies, young kids, or old adults are having trouble breathing or have gotten dehydrated from losing too much fluid, they may need treatment that could include oxygen and IV fluids.
Is there anything else I need to know about an RSV test?
If you’re having RSV symptoms but are otherwise healthy, your provider may not test you for RSV. Most healthy adults and children with RSV will get better in 1-2 weeks.
Are there any anti-viral medications like Tamiflu to treat RSV?
Unlike the flu or covid, there are not currently any prescription anti-viral drugs available to treat RSV. Your AFC provider can recommend over-the-counter medicines and drinking lots of fluids to help with your symptoms. As mentioned before, most healthy adults and children with RSV will get better in 1-2 weeks.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4652120/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC88309/
https://medlineplus.gov/respiratorysyncytialvirusinfections.html