Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – The currently common respiratory syncytial virus is spreading in the United States, causing overcrowding in some children’s hospitals. The flu virus follows the same path, in parallel with other viruses, including adenoviruses and nasals, which cause colds.
This coincides with the return of children to school, and of families to engage in many personal activities, abandoning the preventive measures that were adopted during the spread of “Covid-19”, which increases the possibility of spreading the virus.
What types of respiratory infections can be treated at home and how? What are the symptoms that require a doctor’s call or hospitalization of the children? When are children missing from school? What precautions can the family take to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses?
As a mother of two, Dr. Liana Wynne, a CNN-certified medical analyst, emergency physician and public health expert, and professor of health policy and administration at George Washington University’s Milken Institute of Public Health answers these questions.
CNN: Why are respiratory infections on the rise?
Dr. Liana Wayne: It has always been popular with children. Before the “Covid-19” pandemic, school children had runny noses and coughs, as usual, during the autumn and winter seasons.
We are seeing a partial increase in the spread of respiratory diseases, as preventive measures followed during the pandemic, such as social distancing, wearing a mask and avoiding large gatherings, have limited the spread of respiratory viruses over the past two winters. . Therefore, many children do not enjoy the immunity they normally have.
CNN: What respiratory infections can be treated at home?
where is it: The vast majority of respiratory infections in children can be controlled at home, with fluids, anti-fever medications, and rest. The main factor in determining whether a child needs hospitalization is generally not the disease, but the way the child behaves.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a public health problem because some hospitals are overwhelmed by infected children. The US Centers for Disease Control and Control (CDC) had established prior to the “Covid-19” pandemic that almost all children would be infected with this virus before their second year of life and that approximately 58,000 children would end up in hospital with this disease every year.
Obviously, respiratory syncytial virus is very dangerous for some children, so parents need to know what to look for if their child is seriously ill. But most infected people will have mild cold-like symptoms and won’t be hospitalized.
This also applies to other viruses, such as the flu, which can cause a very serious disease, similar to “Covid-19”. On the other hand, there are viruses usually associated with mild colds, such as adenovirus, which can make some children seriously ill.
CNN: What other risk factors should parents be aware of to assess their child has a serious illness?
where is it: Newborns are very weak. They have low immunity and don’t have much physiological reserve, which means that once they catch an infection they can get sick very quickly. Babies born prematurely are also at risk, as many of them have not developed their lungs as they should. A baby born two months early has a physiological age of two months younger than a premature baby.
There are other factors to consider as well, including young children with heart and lung disease or a severely compromised immune system. In such cases, families should notify their doctor.
CNN: If a child is generally healthy and has a fever, cough, or runny nose, should parents and caregivers call the doctor? When should they go to the hospital?
where is it: There are two main symptoms that cause concern for respiratory infections. First, breathing difficulties. Look for rapid, wavering breathing and if babies’ nostrils are widening, if they are breathing from the abdomen, or if their breathing rate is higher than normal.
The second is the difficulty of maintaining body moisture. This is a problem we encounter especially in children. If they have a stuffy nose, they may have difficulty breastfeeding or drinking formula and may become dehydrated very quickly. If your baby is sleepy and not drinking, or if the number of wet diapers decreases, call the doctor right away.
These are two main reasons for taking babies and younger children to the nearest hospital, which has pediatricians who specialize in emergency medicine.
CNN: When Should Kids Miss School?
where is it: This depends on the policies in place at your child’s school. Many schools require children to stay home if they have a high fever. This applies to vomiting. Some schools may also require a COVID-19 test to ensure symptoms aren’t caused by the coronavirus.
CNN: What precautions should parents and caregivers take?
where is it: Basically wash your hands. Many of these respiratory pathogens are transmitted through droplets – when someone sneezes or coughs, these droplets fall onto surfaces that another person touches and then touches their nose or mouth. Encourage your kids to wash their hands frequently, and if they need to cough or sneeze, do it on the inside of the elbow or in a tissue to reduce droplet spread.
If someone in your family has a respiratory infection, they can easily pass it on to other family members. You can reduce this risk by not sharing utensils or drinks with the sick person and by keeping them away from vulnerable family members such as infants and the elderly.
There is no vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, but there is a flu vaccine that parents should give their children. Children should be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they have not yet done so and family circumstances evaluated to see if children 5 years of age and older should receive the new bivalent booster dose.
