Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Respiratory viruses are spreading in the United States at high levels, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, which have overwhelmed children’s hospitals and worried parents of young children.
While most children who fall ill this season will recover with home care, some will need medical attention.
So what should parents of a child be aware of, and how can they know when to call the pediatrician or rush to the emergency room?
CNN spoke with Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, director of pediatric telemedicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, about the warning signs of serious illness and the steps they can take to protect their children from germs.
CNN: How quickly does it take for an infant or young child to go from being well to needing urgent medical attention?
Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez: Every child’s situation is different depending on when they show signs that it’s time to rush to the emergency room or to the pediatrician.
My biggest concern is younger babies, under 6 months of age, who have very small airways.
For children of different ages, their condition can worsen during different stages of any disease.
Babies younger than 6 months can go wrong at home quickly, without warning, so it’s important for parents to know the signs and know when to seek medical help.
As for older children, they get sick gradually, and in this case it is also important to know when parents should seek medical help.
CNN: As a pediatrician, what are the warning signs you look for when it comes to these respiratory viruses that it’s time to go to the hospital?
Bracho-Sanchez: When the child begins to have difficulty breathing, that is, it seems that he is making an effort to breathe, it means that the time has come for him to enter the emergency room.
Anytime a child becomes dehydrated, or at any time the temperature does not drop during home care, or the temperature persists for more than three days, this is an indication for a visit to the doctor.
CNN: We often hear about the signs of “shortness of breath”, what do they look like?
Bracho-Sanchez: Signs of breathing difficulties include starting with muscles that are not normally used for breathing, by that I mean using the muscles in the nostrils and then using the intercostal muscles.
Any time you notice that your baby is starting to use those extra muscles to breathe, or is starting to breathe rapidly, it means that he is having difficulty breathing and it may be time for him to go to the emergency room.
CNN: Does it make sense to try to treat these symptoms at home?
Bracho-Sanchez: If you notice signs of respiratory distress in your child at home, call your pediatrician. And if you know it will take several hours to get to a pediatrician, go to the emergency room.
CNN: When parents notice something is wrong with their child, how do they decide where to go for help?
Bracho-Sanchez: First, when deciding where to take your child, I think it’s important to listen to your intuition as a parent.
If you feel your child needs medical attention, go to the emergency room, no questions asked.
And if you think your child is getting progressively worse or not getting better, it might be worth contacting your pediatrician first.
And if your child gets sick on the weekend or at a time when you can’t go to the pediatrician, go to urgent care instead of the emergency room.
CNN: Many children’s hospitals across the country are operating at full capacity. If hospital wait times are long, what’s the best option for parents?
Bracho-Sanchez: If your child is showing signs of shortness of breath and you feel it is time for them to go to the emergency room, go to them immediately.
I think it’s important for parents of children to know that we doctors go through a triage process, so that children who need urgent and immediate medical attention are seen first.
For example, children entering due to accidental falls or bone pain may have to wait longer.
But if your child is short of breath, we don’t keep him waiting, we help him right away.
CNN: There are vaccines for influenza and COVID-19, but not for respiratory syncytial virus. How to protect yourself from all these diseases?
Bracho-Sanchez: During the respiratory disease season, there are many factors that parents cannot control, but there are some ways to protect their child from acute respiratory diseases and the complications of these acute respiratory diseases.
This includes getting the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine, including all booster shots, for those who qualify.
It is important to teach children to wash their hands often, cough into their elbows, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue if possible, and stay home if they feel unwell.
CNN: Besides the thermometer, are there any other devices that would be useful to have around the house?
Bracho-Sanchez: The best tool you can have at home as a parent is your informed intuition. Whenever you notice signs of difficulty breathing in your baby, I don’t think you should waste time trying to get a blood oxygen measurement or try making further attempts at home.
When you notice these signs, it’s time to go to the hospital or contact your child’s doctor if you know you’ll be able to reach them right away.
