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BY Sue Dunlevy
What parents should  know about the spread of RSV
Australia is facing a perfect storm of simultaneous virus outbreaks as Covid-19, RSV, the flu and the common respiratory virus metapneumovirus sweep schools and hospitals at unprecedented levels.
Dangerous winter ahead
Along with flu, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common reason children end up in hospital with a respiratory illness.
Here's what you should know 
RSV is a common cold-like virus most children catch before the age of two. It was recently made a notifiable disease because it can cause bronchiolitis, pneumonia and can be fatal.
What is RSV?
Ten per cent of young children and the elderly who catch it end up in hospital.
How serious is it?
people were with RSV hospitalised
Between 2006-2015:
63,814
94.9%
people died, 82 of whom were elderly.
138
were children aged under five.
* Medical Journal Australia 2019 study
If your child has a cold and you think they are breathing fast after one to two days, see a GP and ask for a nasal swab test. Children under six months are high risk.
RSV in kids: the signs
There is no vaccine or medicine for RSV. Children with serious forms of the virus are treated with steroids to control inflammation caused by the virus and are given oxygen in hospital to keep their airways open.
Is there a treatment?
Immunity to common respiratory viruses has been weakened because strict Covid infection control measures meant people did not catch these infections in 2020 and 2021.
Vulnerable population
Only 10 per cent of kids were vaccinated against flu last year.
University of Sydney infectious diseases expert Associate Professor Philip Britton said the coming together of all four viruses was stretching hospitals.
Associate Professor Philip Britton
“”
It is increasingly going to put pressure on our capacity to maintain elective services if we don’t see this come under control. Our best tools (now) are the influenza vaccine and Covid vaccine.
																											

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/web-stories/free/herald-sun/what-parents-should-know-about-the-spread-of-rsv