– We usually have RS outbreaks every single winter, and then typically in December, January and February. Last winter season, there was almost no RS virus, due to the measures against covid. This autumn, we have seen a marked increase in the incidence. It’s unusual.
Per Kristian Knudsen tells Dagbladet. He is a specialist in pediatrics and chief physician in infectious diseases at the pediatric and adolescent ward at Ullevål hospital in Oslo.
RS outbreaks typically last for a few weeks, reach a peak, and then subside gradually. Knudsen emphasizes that the extent of the outbreaks varies from season to season.
This year, however, the outbreak has come earlier than usual – and the level is already where it tends to be during the peaks of the winter season.
– Already now we are at a level that we otherwise usually see in January, when we usually have a peak in the incidence. And it may look like the incidence will continue to increase, says Knudsen.
Pediatrician: Ready for wave of disease
Risking record
If this trend continues, we could have the biggest outbreak in a very long time, according to Superior – potentially a record season.
– What has been reported from other countries, especially Sweden and Denmark, indicates that we have probably not reached the top yet. Denmark and Sweden have had record seasons. If the same development occurs here, we must expect the incidence to increase further. But we do not know for sure until the Norwegian season is over.
In Denmark, the number of infections in late summer and autumn has been two to three times higher than what the country usually sees during a winter season, Knudsen explains.
FHI expects stronger RS outbreaks
– So overall, the outbreak has been much larger than in a normal season.
RS patients now completely dominate among the children who are referred urgently to the pediatric clinic at Ullevål hospital, according to Knudsen.
RS virus, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a virus that causes respiratory infections in children and adults.
October 1 warned National Institute of Public Health (FHI) about an increase in detections of the virus in Norway – with 135 positive test results in week 38, against 36 in week 35.
Already in July, the institute warned that an increased incidence of several respiratory infections, including RS virus, is expected in the coming seasons.
Assistant health director, Espen Rostrup Nakstad, says we can have a challenging time ahead if we are unlucky. Reporter: Julie Tran. Video: Dagbladet TV.
view more
–
– Not sicker than usual
Knudsen emphasizes, however, that there is no indication that children are getting sicker from the virus than is usual.
– There is a very small proportion who become very seriously ill. When many become ill, a few more will also become more seriously ill. But the proportion does not increase.
Usually, children under the age of one in particular need hospitalization as a result of the RS virus.
– Now we see that there are also slightly older children who are admitted, says Knudsen.
These are children aged one to three years.
– It’s a little unusual. The same has been reported from other countries. We believe that this has to do with the fact that there was no RS virus last season, so that the little ones do not have immunity to the virus.
Fear winter crisis: – Difficult month
– Has capacity
The large number of patients entails capacity challenges, but Knudsen emphasizes that the hospital is prepared to handle the situation.
– The level we are at now, we are used to from the peaks that we usually have every winter. Then it seems that the incidence increases further.
ADVICE TO PARENTS: – You go a long way with the usual, basic infection control. Wash your hands and keep some distance when you are ill, says chief physician Per Kristian Knudsen. Photo: Ingvild Essén
view more
Knudsen emphasizes that the hospital is prepared to handle a further increase. However, this will require reallocation of personnel resources and areas.
– But everyone who needs hospitalization and treatment will of course get it. There is an ongoing assessment of the extent to which this will affect other activity. For now, it does not. Such assessments are included in a contingency plan. We have plans, capacity and expertise to handle this. This is a virus that we know well, and are used to dealing with every single winter.
On Tuesday, clinic manager Øyvind Skraastad at the emergency department at Oslo University Hospital confirmed to VG that around 20 patients were admitted with RS virus at the pediatric clinic at Ullevål.
Unusually many children admitted
– Two to three percent
The superior emphasizes that people of all ages can be infected with the RS virus.
– Most people get it as a mild cold, possibly with a slight cough. It is the youngest children who can get more serious illness. It is estimated that two to three percent will need hospitalization due to RS virus during the first year of life, says Knudsen, and continues:
– And the vast majority of children will be infected during their first years of life, since this is a very common virus in the winter. Almost children have had the RS virus at some point.
Knudsen has clear advice for worried parents of young children:
– You go a long way with the usual, basic infection control. Wash your hands and keep some distance when you are sick.
Vilde was diagnosed with the RS virus
These are the symptoms
Parents with infants should not accept visits from people who have a cold or have respiratory symptoms, the superior emphasizes.
It is especially the youngest children, under one year, who can become seriously ill if an RS virus infection spreads to the lungs. Then one should be aware of the following symptoms, according to Knudsen:
– Then the children breathe fast, they have clearly strained breathing and breathe very clearly with the stomach. The chest moves a lot and they can get tired and exhausted. They eat poorly and the general condition is reduced. If you observe this type of symptom, you should of course contact a doctor. And the younger the child, the lower the threshold for contacting a doctor must be.
Mysterious children’s trend: 1000 infected
– A little more vulnerable
Department head Line Vold at FHI says that the department follows the RS virus closely, as well as all other types of infections that cause acute respiratory infection and any need for hospitalization.
– The RS virus season has come early this year compared to what it has done before. We knew it could happen, because it has happened in a number of other countries, she tells Dagbladet.
Mysterious infection trend: Hospital is filled with children
She confirms that peaks in RS virus infections have been reported from other countries. The Covid-19 measures have made us more exposed to such peaks, Vold explains.
– We know that with the covid-19 measures, the Norwegian population has been exposed to minor infections. Therefore, our immune system is less trained, and we are a little more vulnerable to infections, and also a greater degree of serious infections than we have had before. So there is every reason to follow the situation closely – both for RS virus, flu and covid-19.
It is difficult to predict the development further, according to Vold.
– We have not been in a pandemic situation before, but of course we gain experience from what we see in other countries, and then we follow the situation closely here as well.
–
