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A COMMON and dangerous virus is spreading among South Australian babies.
There has been an increase in hospital admissions of children with the respiratory syncytial virus, which causes a range of illnesses from mild colds to the more serious viral pneumonia.
Adelaide researchers are looking for volunteers to be in a vaccine trial to protect against RSV and another common virus, parainfluenza virus type 3, but it will not be ready for years.
Meanwhile, the only protection against RSV and PIV3 is basic hygiene and keeping children away from infected people.
Dr Helen Marshall, head of the Women's and Children's Hospital Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials, said both viruses were common.
"Most kids have come into contact with them and been infected by two years old, and all have by five years," she said.
"This year seems to be bad for RSV, which often requires hospitalisation. It's like a severe chest infection.
"We're seeing lots of cases. It tends to go in cycles a bit ... you'll get a year where there's lots of infection, then that group is protected, but as that immunity wanes (cases increase)."
There is no licensed vaccine for RSV or PIV3, which can also cause bronchitis, croup, cough and fever. They mostly affect children under two and the most severe cases are seen in children under one.
Dr Marshall said the resulting illnesses could be fatal, "but fairly rarely".
Three-month-old Lisa is in the WCH with an RSV infection that has caused bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Her mother, Samantha Wicke, said she was slowly getting better. "We thought Lisa just had a cold, with runny nose and coughing and stuff," she said. "Then on Friday night we got a doctor to come out because her breathing started getting really heavy."
Worldwide, researchers are testing a nasal-drop vaccine.
The WCH is one of several Australian centres running trials. It is seeking healthy babies and toddlers to take part. For more information, call the trials unit on 8161 6228
There has been an increase in hospital admissions of children with the respiratory syncytial virus, which causes a range of illnesses from mild colds to the more serious viral pneumonia.
Adelaide researchers are looking for volunteers to be in a vaccine trial to protect against RSV and another common virus, parainfluenza virus type 3, but it will not be ready for years.
Meanwhile, the only protection against RSV and PIV3 is basic hygiene and keeping children away from infected people.
Dr Helen Marshall, head of the Women's and Children's Hospital Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials, said both viruses were common.
"Most kids have come into contact with them and been infected by two years old, and all have by five years," she said.
"This year seems to be bad for RSV, which often requires hospitalisation. It's like a severe chest infection.
"We're seeing lots of cases. It tends to go in cycles a bit ... you'll get a year where there's lots of infection, then that group is protected, but as that immunity wanes (cases increase)."
There is no licensed vaccine for RSV or PIV3, which can also cause bronchitis, croup, cough and fever. They mostly affect children under two and the most severe cases are seen in children under one.
Dr Marshall said the resulting illnesses could be fatal, "but fairly rarely".
Three-month-old Lisa is in the WCH with an RSV infection that has caused bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Her mother, Samantha Wicke, said she was slowly getting better. "We thought Lisa just had a cold, with runny nose and coughing and stuff," she said. "Then on Friday night we got a doctor to come out because her breathing started getting really heavy."
Worldwide, researchers are testing a nasal-drop vaccine.
The WCH is one of several Australian centres running trials. It is seeking healthy babies and toddlers to take part. For more information, call the trials unit on 8161 6228
