“Do not send your child to school or creche with a cold”
The HSE is urging parents to keep their sick children out of school, even if they have a negative Covid-19 test.
It is believed cases of rhinovirus are increasing in Ireland, but what exactly is it?
The rhinovirus is what causes the common cold.
According to the HSE, typical symptoms include a blocked or runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches, coughs, and sneezing.
Other symptoms may include fever, pressure in your face and ears, as well as a loss of taste and smell.
The symptoms of the common cold are similar to Covid-19, but the HSE has stressed that you should stay home if you have either illness.
The HSE addressed the public, “Symptoms of a cold can be similar to symptoms of Covid-19.
“Do not go to work or send your child to school or creche with a cold.”
“You can go back to work, school, or creche when your symptoms have been gone for 48 hours.”
Symptoms of a common cold last for approximately one week.
Dr. Joe Kidney told BelfastLive that the common cold can actually be dangerous for certain cohorts.
He explained that people with asthma, COPD, and other respiratory health issues may be hospitalised.
“Poorly controlled asthmatics are a real risk group and these are people who should be taking preventer treatments,
“They can get very sick with a rhinovirus infection, so probably rhinovirus is responsible for 80 percent of asthma exacerbations, and while it is very uncommon now, asthma deaths do occur.”
“What I used to say is the common cold can be uncommonly dangerous to some people.”
The public has been asked to practice good hand hygiene and to cough into their elbow if symptomatic.
You should also bin tissues immediately after use.
