This year has surpassed the peak of last year’s RSV surge
The HSE has issued a warning over RSV and flu infections which are reportedly circulating at very high levels.
People are being urged to try and limit the spread of the illness by:
- cocooning very young babies
- practicing respiratory etiquette (covering coughs)
- making sure all vaccines are up to date, including flu and Covid-19
Over the past seven days, there has been a 60 per cent increase in the number of confirmed flu cases. This comes amid a doubling of the number of patients who require admission to hospital due to flu.
Across Ireland’s acute hospitals, the health service is managing 23 outbreaks of the respiratory illness.
On the back of these figures, Dr Greg Martin, National Clinical Lead for Health Protection Surveillance, offered this advice:
“Most cases of RSV and flu can be cared for at home, and usually clears between two to three weeks without treatment.
“Stay home from crèche, school or work and ask your pharmacist for advice on medicines.
“However, parents and caregivers should be vigilant of symptoms, trust their instincts and always contact your GP if you’re are worried, especially if the symptoms get worse quickly.”
Last week also marked the highest weekly number of cases of RSV and the highest weekly hospitalisations caused by RSV in Ireland.
Dr Abigail Collins, National Clinical Lead for the HSE’s Child Health Public Health Programme, advised parents on what they can do to protect against infection:
“The best advice comes back to respiratory etiquette, covering coughs and sneezes, alongside regular hand washing.
“All very important to limit the spread of respiratory illness. We advise people with babies, particularly very young babies, to try to cocoon them and avoid having them in large crowds, or near people with cold and respiratory symptoms.
“If your child is sick, keep them away from other children and vulnerable adults where possible.”
Symptoms of an 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 four to five 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 three to four 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, but the HSE says this does not need antibiotics.
Flu symptoms can also start with a cough or a cold and include:
- a high temperature – over 38 degrees Celsius
- aches and pains
- tiredness
- sore throat
- headaches
The experts advise that if your child has other symptoms of the flu, keep them at home for at least five days after their symptoms begin.
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