Cases of a respiratory illness in children and babies is experiencing a large spike in Bexley and other areas of the country, and health experts are warning parents of a post-pandemic 'immunity debt'.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) typically spikes during the winter months, but an unusually high number of babies have been hospitalised by the illness, which can cause severe illness in youngsters under five, in the past month.

Bexley Council are among those to warn residents that cases of RSV are higher than usual for this time of year, and have urged parents to be on the look out for symptoms, especially if their child is particularly vulnerable.

Reduced circulation of RSV during the typical winter season means that infants and toddlers likely have an increased risk from the virus and of stronger symptoms, with health experts referring to it as a "immunity debt."

It comes after a year of lower infections and people not being exposed to the normal level of viruses and bacteria's, meaning there is a surge in infections once people start returning to normality and mixing with more people again.

Last month the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention released a health advisory warning about an increase in children contracting RSV, and the NHS is currently experiencing a rise in children requiring treatment.

For most healthy babies, RSV is like getting a cold and the virus mainly causes mild cold-like symptoms, but for some it can be very serious, especially for babies under two months, premature babies, and those with certain underlying conditions.

Richmond and Twickenham Times: RSV chartRSV chart

Whilst almost all babies get RSV at some point, it can cause pneumonia, and each year thousands of babies are hospitalised because of the illness.

Dr Claudette Poole, a paediatric infectious diseases physician at Children’s of Alabama, told NBC News: “My speculation is that because we suppressed its normal circulation time during the winter, it’s sort of making up for lost time now."

RSV activity remained low between May 2020 and March 2021, but according to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS), there has been a steady rise in cases since late March this year.

The health minister Lord Bethell said: “I remember the long nights in hospital when my eight-week old daughter fought off RSV. The image of her tiny body plugged into those machines and gasping for air will not leave me. I would not wish those moments for anyone.

“I urge all parents and carers to be alert to the signs of RSV, particularly among young children. It’s a nasty bug, so watch out for it.”

Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England, said that they also expected levels of common seasonal illnesses to increase in the winter. “Children under two are at a particular risk of severe infections from common seasonal illnesses,” she said.

NHS England began planning for the potential rise in paediatric respiratory infections in April 2021, with paediatric units bringing forward their usual winter planning.

The UK is not the only country experiencing an uptick in cases of the virus, with New Zealand, the US and Germany also reporting a high volume.

Parents have been urged to be on the look out for RSV and other infections amid the rise in cases this summer, after English officials said hospitals were treating a growing number of children with the illness.

The virus spreads when a child comes into contact with fluid from an infected person's nose or mouth.

This can happen if a child touches a contaminated surface and touches his eyes, mouth or nose, or from inhaling droplets from an infected person's sneeze or cough.

Symptoms of RSV are just like a cold:

  • Sneezing
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Fever

But the virus can get serious quickly, so call a doctor if

  • Has a cold and is less than 6 months of age
  • Has any breathing problems (wheezing or coughing, fast breathing, blue or gray skin color)
  • Has a cold and is at high risk for RSV
  • Seems very sick or has trouble eating, drinking, or sleeping

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