IRISH parents have been warned to "cocoon" young babies after hundreds of cases of RSV were reported.
Almost 830 new cases of RSV and 283 new cases of flu have been recorded in the last week.
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And up to 40 children a week have been admitted to intensive care as a result of RSV since the beginning of November.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common virus that causes coughs and colds and is the main cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in very young children.
It's not a new virus. Almost all children get RSV by the time they are two years old, as it usually spreads in winter and early spring.
Most symptoms of RSV are mild, but experts have warned that the virus can become deadly to the most vulnerable among us, especially tiny babies.
So it's essential to be able to spot signs of RSV in your little one and to know when it's time to seek medical attention.
Ex-paramedic Nikki Jurcutz, who's behind the baby and child first aid page Tiny Hearts Education, recently shared a video of a nine-week-old to show what symptoms look like in a tot.
"This is a reminder that vulnerable newborns are at risk of catching [RSV]," she wrote on the clip.
The tiny baby is shown coughing wheezily, and its stomach seems to dip in under its ribs every time it lets one out.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, typical RSV symptoms include:
- A runny nose
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Sneezing
- A decreased appetite
- Fever
You'll know it's time to seek help for your little one if they show signs of respiratory distress.
This is a life-threatening condition that prevents enough oxygen from getting to the lungs and into the blood.
Nikki advised parents on how to spot this red flag so they can head to the hospital.
The second part of the video shows the same little baby wheezing and struggling to draw a breath.
RESPIRATORY DISTRESS
The baby's tummy makes a sucking motion every time it pulls in air - a typical sign of respiratory distress.
You might be able to see this sucking motion at your little one's neck - called a tracheal tug - or under their ribs, which is called an intercostal retraction.
The signs of respiratory distress to know
- Retractions
- Abnormal noises
- Changes in skin colour
- Breathing affecting their ability to drink - making them dehydrated
"Your little one might have been seen by a doctor who has given you the okay to go home, but don't forget that things can change," Nikki wrote in a blog post about RSV.
"If your child gets sicker and their condition worsens, you need to be able to recognise that they have changed since they were last seen.
WHAT TO DO
"And if they are showing signs of respiratory distress, they need to be taken back into the hospital to be reassessed."
"My tip for helping you identify changes in your child's condition is to take a video of their breathing when they are well so you can compare that video with how they breathe at any time," the former paramedic wrote.
Elsewhere, Dr Abigail Collins, National Clinical Lead for the HSE's Child Health Public Health Programme, advised parents of some best practices.
She said: "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."
The HSE advises people to call 999 or 112 if your baby is:
- are having difficulty breathing
- go blue on your lips or tongue
- can not stay awake or wake up
- have long gaps in breathing (more than 10 seconds at a time or regular short gaps in breathing of 5 to 10 seconds)
- are breathing a lot faster than usual (more than 60 breaths per minute)
- are pale and sweaty
- have heart or lung disease and symptoms of RSV
- have a weakened immune system and symptoms of RSV
