Winter viruses could ‘surge’ among children after lockdowns lower immunity

Britain faces a “surge” in winter viruses among children as a result of low immunity from lockdowns, a charity has warned.

The British Lung Foundation (BLF) is urging people to “be on their guard” against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), after it saw a 400 per cent in calls to its helpline from parents worried about their child’s breathing difficulties.

Dr Andy Whittamore, clinical lead at the BLF, and a practising GP, said:  “In general practice, we are seeing a lot of children with coughs and viruses that weren’t circulating last year and so their immunity is lowered.

“Doctors on the ground are concerned that alongside a rapid increase in cases of Covid-19, we are also going to see a surge in diseases like bronchiolitis.”

RSV could be widespread among young children this winter after lockdown last year meant there were fewer infections than would normally occur, the BLF said.

“In the last few weeks, we have noticed a surge in calls from parents who are worried about their child’s breathing,” said Caroline Fredericks, a respiratory nurse who supports the BLF’s helpline.

“Most of these parents have never heard of RSV which is worrying.”

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.

It is common in babies and children under two years old and can cause breathing issues and hospitalisations if it develops into bronchiolitis - a serious chest infection that affects the smaller airways of the lungs.

 Most babies and children with the virus will have mild symptoms which can be looked after safely at home, but around three in every 100 will have symptoms severe enough to need treatment in hospital.  

Hospitalisations for RSV are 10 times higher in the under-fives than they are for all other age groups in England, according to latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency.

The virus is usually responsible for 20,000 hospital admissions in under-ones every year. 

Research shows that eight out of 10 children will have had the virus by their second birthday.

Chloe-Ann Ford, a 22-year-old mother from the Isle of Wight, said she was “terrified” when she discovered her 12-week-old baby struggling to breathe in November last year.

She said: “Teddy deteriorated so quickly. One minute he was kicking away in his cot, and the next he went all pale and clammy and was really struggling to breathe. He kept holding his breath and his ribcage seemed to be heaving.”

Ms Ford called an ambulance, thinking his symptoms were caused by Covid-19, but was hospitalised with bronchiolitis as a result of RSV.

“We had to spend five nights in hospital and Teddy was kept on oxygen. On one occasion, he stopped breathing for 28 seconds which was terrifying. I thought Teddy had Covid as I had tested positive, but he had RSV,” she continued.

“I’d never heard of it before and didn’t know how dangerous it could be.

“Thankfully, Teddy is now recovered but I want all parents of young children to be aware of RSV and to get medical help if their child finds it hard to feed, becomes very breathless or breathes in a shallow, irregular way. It could save their life.”