I had no idea that RSV could be so severe

In May 2023, when Megan Behn’s three-month old baby Xavier developed a blocked nose, little did she know it was the first sign of an illness that would result in a five-day hospital stay.

Little Xavier’s mild, cold-like symptoms soon deteriorated into a cough and wheeze, which prompted Megan to take him to a GP.

While the GP said Xavier seemed OK, he warned to be on the lookout for the signs of respiratory distress, including an indentation at the base of the throat.

The next morning, when Xaver showed this very sign, alongside an increasingly worrisome wheeze, the family went straight to hospital.

There, Xavier was diagnosed with a combination of RSV and COVID-19.

“It was horrible seeing your baby cry that much, being so distressed,” Megan said.

During an extended hospital stay, staff worked around the clock to provide oxygen support and tube feeding to bolster the little boy’s oxygen levels and ensure he remained hydrated and fed.

Megan stayed by Xavier’s side for five days and described the staff at Southport Hospital as “really lovely and caring”.

“When he finally started to improve, the feeling of relief was indescribable.

I had heard of RSV, but I had had no idea it could be so severe. I assumed it was like a cold. It was anything but a cold for Xavier,”

Having an immunisation available for RSV would be amazing and something I would definitely support.”