Less than half of Irish parents confident they know how to spot the symptoms of RSV

Sophie Collins

Findings from a recent survey commissioned by Sanofi have shown that 19% of Irish parents haven’t heard of RSV

The online survey was conducted with 500 adults who are either currently pregnant or who have children in Ireland to understand their level of awareness and knowledge of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

RSV is a common virus that causes coughs and colds and can cause infection in the lower part of the respiratory system.

The survey results have revealed some alarming misconceptions about the virus with just over half (51%) of Irish parents having heard of RSV and understand the risk it poses to infants and babies.

This means that almost 1 in 5 (19%) have not even heard of RSV.

Dr Máire Finn, a GP at Ennis Centric health spoke about the dangers of RSV and said: “Most RSV infections in babies are mild and will clear up within a few weeks.

“However, some cases can be more serious and may require hospitalisation. RSV can initially present with symptoms that might easily be mistaken for a common cold, such as fever, sniffles, wheezing, reduced appetite, or even ear infections.

“If symptoms progress to include changes in feeding habits, prolonged periods without wet nappies, rapid breathing, persistent high fever despite medication, or uncharacteristic fussiness, it’s best to consult your GP.

“And if your child shows noticeable breathing difficulties or significant pauses in breathing, it’s imperative to seek urgent medical attention, including dialling 999.”

Approximately 90% of children are infected with RSV by two years of age, with RSV being the leading cause of LRTIs in babies.

RSV is a seasonal virus and is spread by coughs and sneezes or close physical contact. In Ireland, the RSV season is generally from early October, with peak outbreaks typically occurring in the winter months.

The highest numbers of infections are usually reported in December and January every year.

Kathryn Thomas, Together Against RSV Ambassador, Broadcaster said: “My daughter Grace was just a month old when she contracted RSV.

“At first, I thought maybe it was a cold, but after a couple of days, the symptoms got worse and I just knew we had to get her checked.

“She was admitted to hospital for three days, and thankfully, she made a full recovery. My message to parents this RSV season is to trust your instincts; if you feel something is not right with your child, then get it checked out.”

According to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), symptoms of RSV can often resemble a cold at the beginning, including:6

Fever
Running nose
Sniffles
Wheezing
Decreased appetite
Ear infections (in children)

Lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchiolitis, pneumonia or pneumonitis, are most likely to occur during a child’s first infection with RSV.6

Precautionary steps can be taken to help protect infants. These include:

Frequent, careful hand washing is the most important measure in preventing the spread of RSV.

If someone has cold-like/flu-like symptoms that they cover their nose and mouth (preferably with a tissue) when they cough and sneeze, and wash their hands for at least 10 seconds.

Avoiding sharing items such as cups, glasses and utensils with persons who have RSV illness should decrease the spread of the virus to others.

In addition, cleaning contaminated (soiled with RSV) surfaces (such as door handles) may help stop the spread of RSV. Normal household products can be used.

The HSE recommends that parents or caregivers contact a GP if they are worried about their baby’s symptoms or if:

you’re worried about your child
your baby has had less than 3 to 4 wet nappies in a 24 hour period
your baby has gone 12 hours without having a wet nappy
your baby has no energy to breastfeed, or if they are refusing to feed. Or if your baby is too breathless to attach to your breast
you are bottle feeding and you notice your baby is taking less than half of what they would normally take
your child has a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher that does not settle or improve
your child seems short of breath
your child has no energy or is irritable

Furthermore, the HSE recommends immediately calling 999 or 112 for an ambulance or go to your nearest emergency department if you or a caregiver notices that:

is having visible difficulty breathing – their nostrils are getting wider as they breathe, or their ribs are sucking in
has gone blue on their lips or tongue
will not stay awake or wake up
has long gaps in breathing (more than 10 seconds at a time or regular short gaps in breathing of 5 to 10 seconds)
is breathing a lot faster than usual (more than 60 breaths per minute)
is pale and sweaty
has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more