Tuesday 5 July 2022 03:24 AM Respiratory syncytial virus: NSW mums reveal babies fight for life in ICU with ... trends now
A horrified mother has relived the terrifying moment her tiny baby gasped for life as his lung collapsed and he stopped breathing in the killer grip of a lethal virus.
New South Wales is in the midst of a surging respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreak, with case numbers spiralling ten times in the space of three weeks.
The disease - which has similar symptoms to Covid and influenza - can be fatal in very young children, killing 120,000 a year globally, with no vaccine to protect them.
Now two mothers have told Daily Mail Australia how RSV almost killed their children and the desperate fight to save them.
Lisa Whillock's baby Oscar was only eight weeks old when he started having difficulty breathing at their home in Terrigal, on NSW's Central Coast.
Oscar Whillock was just eight weeks old when he started having difficulty breathing at his home in Terrigal in May (pictured, the baby is transported to Randwick Children's Hospital)
Oscar Whillock was eventually diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus - a major cause of lung infection in infants and spent six days being cared for in intensive care
The worried mum twice rushed him to local Gosford Hospital where medics took swab tests and checked oxygen levels before sending the family home again.
But a few days later, Oscar showed no signs of improvement, and the family returned to hospital, where test results revealed he had RSV.
The baby was also diagnosed with bronchiolitis - a lung infection that causes inflammation and mucus to build in the airways, making breathing difficult.
Severe cases can kill babies and toddlers, whose tiny airways have not yet fully formed and who do not have enough immunity against infection.
'He deteriorated so fast,' Ms Whillock told Daily Mail Australia. 'He stopped breathing on the Sunday, he could have died'.
Oscar Whillock was placed on a CPAP breathing machine and cared for by specialist nurses who his mother has described as 'absolutely incredible'
After six tumultuous days in the ICU, Oscar Whillock was discharged, however his family's terrifying brush with illness returned when his whole family was then stuck down with the flu
His terrified mum watched as her newborn entered respiratory arrest and, at one point, stopped breathing.
His deteriorating condition meant doctors eventually decided to rush him to the intensive care unit at Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick in the eastern suburbs.
Oscar was placed on a breathing machine and cared for by specialist nurses.
The eight-week-old suffered a partially collapsed lung from coughing so much and required antibiotics and several chest x-rays before turning a corner.
She said seeing her eight-week-old hooked up to a breathing machine was 'heartbreaking' and the 'worst time' of her life.
'I don't think I've fully processed it. It was awful,' she said. 'I just felt so helpless and so sorry for him. There was nothing I could do.'
After six tumultuous days, Oscar was discharged, but he spent another night in ICU six weeks later when his whole family was struck down with influenza.
Ms Whillock said she regrets not getting vaccinated earlier and suspected her two-year-old son was inadvertently bringing viruses home from daycare.
She said influenza was '100 times worse' than having Covid and said she had experienced a 'solid week of aches'.
'I've never known a flu season like it,' the mum-of-two said.
Oscar's mum described seeing her eight-week-old hooked up to a breathing machine as 'heartbreaking' and the 'worst time' of her life
Ms Whillock remains paranoid her little boy (pictured) will end up in the ICU again with yet another illness after two visits in just over two months
His terrified mum watched as her newborn entered respiratory arrest and, at one point, stopped breathing.
His deteriorating condition meant doctors eventually decided to rush him to the intensive care unit at Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick in the eastern suburbs.
Oscar was placed on a breathing machine and cared for by specialist nurses.
The eight-week-old suffered a partially collapsed lung from coughing so much and required antibiotics and several chest x-rays before turning a corner.
She said seeing her eight-week-old hooked up to a breathing machine was 'heartbreaking' and the 'worst time' of her life.
'I don't think I've fully processed it. It was awful,' she said. 'I just felt so helpless and so sorry for him. There was nothing I could do.'
After six tumultuous days, Oscar was discharged, but he spent another night in ICU six weeks later when his whole family was struck down with influenza.
Ms Whillock said she regrets not getting vaccinated earlier and suspected her two-year-old son was inadvertently bringing viruses home from daycare.
She said influenza was '100 times worse' than having Covid and said she had experienced a 'solid week of aches'.
'I've never known a flu season like it,' the mum-of-two said.
The one-year-old (pictured) was rushed to hospital after her mother noticed she had begun to 'gasp for air' after being particularly
