INFANTS have been falling ill with a respiratory viral infection while the adult population is coping with influenza.
The Virus Reference Laboratory at University College, Dublin reports a much higher than normal incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It affects children aged up to 12 months, and cases are expected to peak this month. Several were hospitalised over Christmas.
In Belfast only emergency cases are being admitted to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children because of the high number of cases of bronchiolitis, a condition caused by RSV. Some 30 babies are being treated for lung infections there.
A spokesman for the UCD laboratory said: "In the past we would have the majority of cases in January but this year there were a lot of cases diagnosed in November and December. There really is a lot of it about."
Eighty six cases have been reported since November, and another 45 are expected for this month. The total for the last winter viral period, from September until the end of April, was 131.
Dr Karina Butler consultant in infectious diseases at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin, said that children younger than six months have been affected. But the number of cases of influenza among young children has been very low.
RSV begins as a chesty cold and is not normally associated with a high fever. In most cases the infant begins to recover after 48 to 72 hours.
"There is usually a wheeziness in the chest. In young infants you see they are working harder at their breathing, their nose flares and their neck muscles are more prominent. They may also be off their feeds or vomiting," explained Dr Butler.
She said those particularly at risk are children with chronic underlying chest conditions, infants born prematurely with a residual chest condition, and children with congenital heart disease or immuno-deficiency. The infection can pass readily from child to child in confined conditions.
As with influenza, there is no antibiotic treatment, although an anti-viral drug is available for some cases.
"The children would be taken into hospital to keep them hydrated or if they need extra oxygen. RSV varies from the very mild to the more severe cases, at times requiring incubation, although that is in a minority of cases. Of the children that get it, usually only 1 per cent are severe enough to need hospitalisation," said Dr Butler.