RSV can infect people of all ages but can be serious for –
- babies under 1 year of age
- children aged 1 to 4 years
- children and adults with an underlying lung or heart condition
- people with a weakened immune system
- adults aged 65 years and older3
Almost all children get RSV3 and by the age of two years old ~90% of young children have been infected with RSV.4
While most symptoms of RSV are mild, such as a runny nose, coughing and sneezing,3 it is also the most common cause of hospital admissions due to acute respiratory illness in young children.2
Premature infants, infants less than 6 months, children less than 2 years of age with congenital heart or chronic lung disease, as well as children with weakened immune systems, may be at risk of more severe illness.2
However, most healthy infants infected with RSV will not need to be hospitalised.2
RSV is a seasonal virus with outbreaks typically occurring in the winter months with the highest numbers of infections usually reported in December and January every year.5 RSV has been a notifiable disease in Ireland since January 2012.2
Viruses like RSV, that cause respiratory infections, do not respond to treatment with antibiotics.2
You can usually treat RSV symptoms at home however, do bring your child to your GP if you are worried about them or if their symptoms worsen.3
There are precautions you can take to help protect your baby from RSV. These include:2
- Frequent hand washing
- Cough or sneeze into your bent elbow if you do not have a tissue and wash your hands after
- Cleaning contaminated surfaces can help stop the spread
RSV can infect people of all ages but can be serious for –
- babies under 1 year of age
- children aged 1 to 4 years
- children and adults with an underlying lung or heart condition
- people with a weakened immune system
- adults aged 65 years and older3