 is the main reason children under five end up in hospital.Other treatments for RSV already exist and trials of a vaccine have also shown promise.In a normal winter, RSV mostly causes coughs and colds which clear up in a couple of weeks - but it can be particularly serious in infants under the age of two, causing severe lung problems such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Every year, about 29,000 babies need hospital care for RSV and most have no other health issues beforehand.Many infants now have little natural protection from the usual winter viruses. They were born during the pandemic when lockdowns and restrictions helped suppress their spread - and that is concerning health officials.Although RSV rates are currently higher in the UK than during the pandemic, they are still in line with a normal winter. Levels of RSV are also surging in the US.Image source, Christine BurlisonImage caption, Aria was just 12 days old when she ended up in hospital with an RSV infectionChristine Burlison thought her newborn baby Aria had nothing more than a cold when she started sneezing and snuffling not long after coming home.But then Aria started grunting when breathing, and the next day she suddenly went floppy."It was really distressing," Christine says."I'd never heard of RSV - it's not part of antenatal training, but I knew something wasn't right."An ambulance took Aria to hospital where she was given oxygen to help her recovery, and she was there for a week.Christine says th){kind=link}
A new treatment to protect babies against a common and potentially dangerous winter virus has been approved by the UK regulator.
The single antibody shot helps stop infants getting chest infections, such as pneumonia, for about six months.
A large study has now begun to find out whether nirsevimab should be offered to all babies in the UK.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main reason children under five end up in hospital.
Other treatments for RSV already exist and trials of a vaccine have also shown promise.