Shocking video reveals how quickly babies with viruses can go downhill

PARENTS are being urged to know the signs of babies struggling to breathe as nasty childhood viruses surge across the country.

Fresh figures from the UK Health Security Agency revealed there has been an increase in cases of both flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among children under the age of five this winter.

Babies and young children are particularly at risk to these infections, which can lead to serious issues such as bronchitis, pneumonia and even death.

In a distressing clip, shared by parenting organisation , a baby with RSV gets progressively worse as she struggled to breathe, despite the intervention of doctors.

It highlights several symptoms of the virus parents should be aware of.

RSV is a leading cause of infant mortality and is especially dangerous to babies born prematurely, yet many parents have no idea their child could be at risk.

The video, which begins on a Tuesday morning, the baby is seen "working hard to breathe and struggling to feed," according to the mum.

By Tuesday lunchtime, the mum has taken the little girl to hospital, as the breathing worsens.

While there, doctors diagnosed the little one with RSV and a secondary condition, bronchitis.

By 4pm, the mum explained her baby is "struggling harder" to breathe and is now getting fed breast milk via a tube.

As 10pm rolled in baby has "really gone downhill", the mum explained.

At this point you can see the baby sucking in around it's ribs⁠ - a common sign of RSV.

The baby, who's head you can see in bobbing up and down - another common symptom of the virus - was then been given oxygen to help them breathe.

By Wednesday, the baby who has shown no signs of recovery is taken into intensive care for more medical support.