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Local doctors’ surgeries are being inundated with adults and children with respiratory illness this winter, including the potentially deadly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV is a common, highly contagious virus that is particularly bad this year. It causes cold-like symptoms in healthy adults and older children, but in those aged under two it can be a lot more serious, potentially leading to bronchiolitis, which causes difficulty breathing, poor feeding and a wheeze. In such cases, a child will need to be seen in hospital, as it can lead to low oxygen levels and dehydration.
Dr Isabelle Duck of Silverdale Medical says the clinic has seen a deluge of patients with coughs, colds and related illnesses.
She says although Silverdale Medical does not routinely test for RSV, she suspects a lot of patients have had it.
Dr Peter Hall of The Doctors Whangaparāoa says it’s one of the worst seasons for this type of illness that he can remember since he came to the Coast in 1987.
“At least two of my patients, under the age of two years, were admitted to hospital and many others have been to the Emergency Department, monitored for a few hours, then sent home,” Dr Hall says. “We are receiving dozens of calls daily for advice about respiratory symptoms in adults and children.”
Doctors have surmised that the outbreak could be the result of lowered immunity – an unforeseen consequence of Covid-19 responses, such as lockdowns and social distancing.
Otago University epidemiologist, Michael Baker, agrees.
“While the methods we used to control transmission of Covid-19 in 2020 worked well, one consequence was that young children had less exposure to RSV last year,” he says. “This year we have more RSV circulating and a larger group of vulnerable children – hence a larger winter epidemic.”
Professor Graham Le Gros, immunologist and director of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in Wellington, says that the outbreak is a “wake up call” that a vaccine against RSV is needed. He says currently one is being trialled in New Zealand.
“RSV is a serious disease that needs to be eliminated from the childhood infections that affect our communities,” he says.
What to look for: Dr Isabelle Duck has this advice: Most infants with RSV or bronchiolitis can be managed by their GP and monitored closely at home. Look for symptoms such as a wheeze, shortness of breath, exhaustion, floppiness and reduced fluid intake. If your child has any of these symptoms, they need to be seen urgently, even if they’ve already been checked out by a doctor. • Info: www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv • Paediatric Society’s KidsHealth website has information for parents on what to do if your child has a respiratory infection, and when to seek help. www.kidshealth.org.nz/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-infection • If your child has any new respiratory symptoms, keep them at home. Phone Healthline, 0800 611 116, or your doctor as soon as possible for advice.
