RS virus: what Norwegian parents need to know
The virus usually causes symptoms similar to those of the common cold, but can cause more serious respiratory infections in some cases.
“The increase in respiratory symptoms is especially seen in children and adults up to their 40s, which fits well with the tendency of children and their parents to get sick,” said Margrethe Greve-Isdahl, senior medical consultant of the NIPH, in a press release.
While a seasonal increase in RS virus cases is normal, it started earlier in the fall than usual, according to the NIPH.
The trend, which has also been seen in neighboring Sweden and Denmark, has been linked to lower immunity among the population as social distancing measures taken against Covid-19 in 2020 also reduced the spread of other seasonal infections. .
RS virus outbreaks are generally more frequent between November and May.
Most adults and children generally experience the virus as a cold-like illness. In some cases, however, a more serious infection may persist in the respiratory system.
Infants under one year of age can develop bronchiolitis, a blockage of the small airways in the lungs that may require hospitalization.
Between 1,000 and 2,000 children between the ages of 0 and 5 are hospitalized each year for the RS virus in Norway, according to the NIPH.
“In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in confirmed cases of several different respiratory viruses alongside an increase in respiratory symptoms in the population,” said Greve-Isdahl.
How does the virus appear in children if the symptoms get worse?
Bronchiolitis can cause coughing fits and shortness of breath and can particularly affect infants but also children up to the age of five. Symptoms often start with a cold and develop over a few days. The virus can cause loss of appetite in children. Breastfeeding mothers may notice a buildup of milk, writes NIPH.
“If you are worried about your sick child, it is important to contact the health service. Children who have difficulty breathing should be seen by a doctor. As a general rule, the lower the threshold for contacting a doctor, the younger the child, ”said Greve-Isdahl.
What can parents do?
The NIPH recommends that parents keep children with new cold symptoms at home, away from school, nursery or kindergarten, as respiratory infections are more easily transmitted during the first days of the illness.
Children can return to school or daycare once they have no more fever and most symptoms go away and the child feels again. It is normal for children to still have a runny nose, for example, if their symptoms have returned to normal.
The health authority also recommends avoiding visits to families with infants or women in late pregnancy if you have cold symptoms.