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 influenza virus follows the same path, in parallel with other viruses, including adenovirus and nasal, that cause colds.
This coincides with the return of children to school, and 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 the virus spreading.
What types of respiratory infections can be treated at home, and how? What are the symptoms that require a doctor to be called, or children to be admitted to the hospital? When do children miss school? What precautions can the family take to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses?
As a mother of two, Dr. Liana Wynne, 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 increasing?
Dr. Liana Wayne: It has always been popular with children. Before the “Covid-19” pandemic, school children had a runny nose and cough, as usual, during the fall and winter seasons.
We are witnessing a partial increase in the spread of respiratory diseases, as the preventive measures that were followed during the pandemic, such as social distancing, wearing a mask, and avoiding large gatherings, limited the spread of respiratory viruses during the past two winters. Therefore, many children do not enjoy the immunity that they normally have.
CNN: What respiratory infections can be treated at home?
where: The vast majority of respiratory infections in children can be controlled at home, with fluids, fever-reducing medications, and rest. The main factor in determining whether a child needs hospitalization is generally not illness, but the way the child behaves.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a public health concern because some hospitals are overwhelmed with infected children. The US Centers for Disease Control and Control (CDC) had determined before the “Covid-19” pandemic, that nearly all children would be infected with this virus before their second year of life, and that about 58,000 children would end up in hospital with this disease annually.
Obviously, respiratory syncytial virus is very dangerous for some children, so parents need to know what to watch for if their child is seriously ill. But most infected people will have mild symptoms similar to those of a cold, and will not be hospitalized.
This also applies to other viruses, such as influenza, which can cause a very serious illness, similar to “Covid-19”. On the other hand, there are viruses usually associated with mild colds, such as adenovirus, that can make some children very sick.
CNN: What other risk factors should parents be aware of in order to assess that their child has a severe disease?
where: Newborns are very weak. They have low immunity, and they do not have much physiological reserve, which means that once they catch an infection they can become very ill very quickly. Babies who were born prematurely are also at risk, because many of them have not developed their lungs as they should. A baby born two months early has a physiological age two months younger than a premature baby.
There are other factors to consider as well, including young children with heart and lung disease, or severely compromised immune systems. In these 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 do they have to go to the hospital?
where: There are two main symptoms that cause concern about respiratory infections. First, breathing difficulties. Look for faltering, rapid breathing, and if children’s 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 find it difficult to breastfeed or drink formula, and they may become dehydrated very quickly. If your child becomes sleepy and does not drink, or if the number of wet nappies goes down, 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: This depends on the policies in place at your child’s school. Many schools require children to stay home if they have a high temperature. This applies to vomiting. Some schools may also require a COVID-19 test to ensure that the symptoms are not caused by the coronavirus.
CNN: What precautions should parents and caregivers take?
where: Basically washing hands. Many of these respiratory pathogens are transmitted through droplets: When someone sneezes or coughs, these droplets fall on surfaces that another person touches and then touches their nose or mouth. Encourage your children to wash their hands frequently, and if they need to cough or sneeze, do so into the inside of their elbow or into a tissue to reduce the spread of droplets.
If someone in your family has a respiratory infection, it 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 keeping them away from vulnerable family members such as newborns 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 assessed to see if children 5 years of age and older should receive the new bivalent booster dose.