Isolation 'has made children more susceptible to common illnesses'

Dr John Twomey, consultant paediatrician, Children’s Ark, University Hospital Limerick. Picture: UHL

Cases of the common childhood infection respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) more than doubled last year when compared to 2020, figures show.

There were 4,382 cases of RSV during 2021, compared to 1,947 in 2020, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s (HPSC) annual infectious diseases tally. This is an increase of 2,435 cases.