Doctor issues 12-hour RSV warning amid spike in cases - what you need to know

What you need to know about RSV symptoms amid a spike in cases.

• A doctor has issued an urgent 12-hour warning amid a spike in cases of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) across the UK. RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds but can lead to severe complications in some people.

• An update from the UK Health Security Agency (UKSA) revealed that cases of RSV increased in the most recent week recorded (November 24 to 30). Hospitalisations also increased in that period.

• On top of this, emergency department attendances for acute bronchiolitis have increased. Bronchiolitis is an inflammation of the bronchioles and is often caused by RSV.

• In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, NHS doctor Suraj Kukadia issued advice on RSV. He warned that it is most dangerous in young children and babies. He said: “It can happen anytime of the year. It can also happen in anyone at any age, but we usually see it at its most severe in children under the age of one or two years old.”

• Therefore, he stressed the importance of knowing what is ”normal” for your child. He said: “Film what your child looks like when they are breathing when they are not unwell so that when things start to change, if they start to work harder to breathe, then you have a reference point to say they're breathing a lot quicker, or now I can see the sucking in between the ribs, or the sucking in under the ribs, or I can see that the sucking in where the trachea is.”

• Dr Sooj also warned that a 12-hour symptom requires a trip to A&E. If your child does not urinate for this length of time they need emergency assistance. He said: “If they go 12 hours without peeing, that's a red flag. You have to go to the emergency department. If they are peeing less than 50 per cent of normal, that's also a problem. Need to go to the emergency department.”

• This issue is listed by the NHS as a serious symptom of RSV. It recommends calling 111 or getting an urgent GP appointment if “your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more, or shows other signs of dehydration”.

• According to the NHS, symptoms of an RSV infection usually start within a few days of getting infected. Most people only get cold-like symptoms, such as a runny or blocked nose, a cough, sneezing, tiredness, and a high temperature.

• If RSV leads to a more serious infection (such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis) it may also cause a cough that gets worse, shortness of breath, faster breathing or long gaps between breaths, difficulty feeding (in babies) or loss of appetite, noisy breathing (wheezing), or confusion (in older adults).

• The NHS says you should call 999 or go to A&E if your child is having difficulty breathing. You may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs, there are pauses when your child breathes, your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue, or your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake.