When your baby isn’t feeling well, it’s natural to worry — especially when symptoms like coughing, congestion, or a fever show up. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common illness that affects infants and young children, and can cause some distressing symptoms. While most parents are familiar with the typical symptoms of RSV like a runny nose, wheezing, or trouble feeding, many wonder: do babies get a rash with RSV? Find out if a rash is a normal symptom of RSV, and what to do when your baby has a rash along with other symptoms. 

Rashes with RSV 

The short answer for whether or not RSV causes rashes in babies is: not typically. But, they can happen in some cases. Most of the time, the typical symptoms of RSV include: 

• Lack of appetite or trouble feeding 
• Sneezing 
• Runny nose or congestion 
• Coughing 
• Fever

Some babies may develop a rash during or immediately following an RSV infection. This rash is most likely a “viral rash” that results from a fever,  but can also be caused by irritation from frequent nose-wiping, or a reaction to medications. Diaper rashes can also occur from swallowing mucus, which can irritate your baby’s digestive system. And, it’s possible for your baby to have a rash that occurs alongside RSV, with no correlation to the virus itself. 

What To Do When Your Baby Has a Rash 

While rashes aren’t generally a cause for concern on their own, it’s always a good idea to have them checked out — especially if they’re accompanied by other symptoms, widespread, or lingering. Rashes can occur for many reasons, so pinpointing the cause can lead to faster treatment and recovery. If your baby experiences rashes regularly, it can be helpful to keep a journal to document any new foods, laundry detergents, or other potential allergens.