Respiratory illnesses for parents to watch out for

For the last year and a half, the world has focused on one particularly dangerous respiratory infection: COVID-19. With many people masking and social distancing, the United States experienced a relatively light flu season last year. However, with the world reopening, pediatricians have reported something they have not typically seen: a spike in respiratory infections during the summer and back-to-school seasons.

“The same measures that we talk about helping prevent COVID also work against other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza or RSV, which likely contributes to why we saw a downturn in these numbers last winter and an uptick in the off-season,” said Dr. Natalia Tutak, a pediatrician with SSM Health Medical Group. “While most of these viruses are common and most children recover from them, it’s important to stay vigilant and seek medical treatment, when needed.”

Dr. Tutak said symptoms of viruses like RSV are most worrisome in children age  six- months and younger, as well as those who may be immunocompromised or have asthma or other risk factors. However, they can cause sickness in older children, too, that should be addressed.

Common symptoms of RSV include but may not be limited to fever, runny nose, coughing and occasionally wheezing. The best course of action for kids experiencing these symptoms is typically to keep them home from school and away from others, then call your pediatrician.

Some children with RSV, however, can have more serious symptoms. If you notice your child exhibiting any of the following, dial 9-1-1 or visit your nearest emergency room:

• Fast-paced breathing struggling for air
• Muscles pulling at the top or the sides of the rib cage
• Nostrils flaring trying to catch breath
• Bobbing head trying to get air

In addition to seeking the care of your pediatrician, Dr. Tutak recommends some of the following steps to help keep your child comfortable as their body fights off the virus, which can typically take up to 7-10 days:

• Provide them LOTS of fluids to drink
• Keep mucus out of the nose (buildup can cause a secondary bacterial infection)
• Use a cool mist humidifier (or shower steam) to loosen mucus
• Take a spoonful of honey a few times a day to soothe the throat (only if the child is older than one year)

Dr. Tutak further cautions that with the rate of community spread of COVID-19, it is always important to consider a child’s symptoms may be due to COVID, even if there is no known exposure. At this point, pediatricians are seeing a very wide range of COVID symptoms exhibited by children, which parents often attribute to seasonal allergies or other sicknesses.

“One of the best things parents can do to keep their kids healthy is simply to model really good hand washing for kids to build those habits early,” Dr. Tutak said. “That, along with keeping kids home from school and activities when they may be sick, will help keep your children and their friends healthy.”