RSV infection at very high levels in Ireland
The HSE is urging people to help limit the spread of RSV to protect children and newborns. RSV is currently at very high levels in Ireland, especially in children aged four and under.
The vast majority of cases are in young children, with children under 1 year most affected.
For latest RSV case and hospitalisation data and how this season compares with previous RSV seasons see https://respiratoryvirus.hpsc.ie/pages/rsv.
Sometimes RSV can be more serious and children will need to be cared for in hospital. You can usually treat RSV symptoms at home without needing to see a GP.
Parents should be vigilant of their children’s symptoms, trust their instinct and always contact their GP if they are worried, especially if the symptoms get worse quickly.
There are things that parents and caregivers can do to help curb the spread and keep infants safe:
- Advice to people with babies, particularly very young babies, is to try to cocoon them and avoid having them in large crowds, or visiting/being visited by those with cold and respiratory symptoms.
- When we are sick ourselves or have children who are sick, keep away from other children where possible and to ensure that we and young children, use respiratory etiquette (cover your cough) for coughs/sneezes.
- Vital that children with cold or flu like illnesses don’t go to crèche or school until they are feeling better to try to avoid spreading these viruses.
RSV symptoms
Symptoms of a RSV infection start like a cold and can include:
- cough
- wheezing
- runny nose
- difficulty feeding or decreased appetite
- fever (temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher)
- sore throat
These symptoms usually appear in stages and not all at once.
After 4 to 5 days, babies and young children can develop bronchiolitis. Their symptoms may get worse and include:
- increased breathing (more breaths per minute)
- wheezing
- difficulty feeding or decreased appetite
- less wet nappies
These symptoms often remain for 3 to 4 days before slowly getting better. It can usually take 10 to 14 days before babies and young children recover from an RSV infection.
Many babies and children may have a cough that lasts for weeks after the start of the infection. This does not need antibiotics.
When to get medical help: You can usually treat RSV symptoms at home without needing to see a GP.
But trust your instincts. Bring your child to your GP if you are worried about them or their symptoms worsen.
Further information:
HSE RSV Frequently Asked Questions - https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/rsv/
HSE Advice on common winter illnesses and how to treat them - https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/common-illnesses/
HPSC RSV Factsheet - https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/respiratorysyncytialvirus/factsheet/
RSV surveillance data - https://respiratoryvirus.hpsc.ie/pages/rsv.