Nursery World - Health & Wellbeing: Combatting the rise in seasonal infections

Are children suffering a form of ‘immunity debt’ from lack of exposure to bugs during the pandemic? By Meredith Jones Russell

Viral infections are on the rise after periods of lockdown followed by a return to normal activities

Following two years of lockdowns, medical professionals are noting that illnesses like Strep A, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), colds and flu, which are usually much more prevalent in winter, are occurring more steadily throughout the year.

There are currently around 650 children under five in hospital with flu in England, which is 44 per cent more than at the same time in 2019-20, while there are more infections with RSV than usual.

The Royal College of GPs has reported increased rates of ‘influenza-like illnesses, respiratory conditions and the common cold’, with cases of strep, tonsillitis and upper respiratory infections ‘above the seasonal average’.

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