Experts say a growing number of young children are going to the emergency room for respiratory infections this year. RSV, rhinoviruses, and enteroviruses are the most common pathogens, primarily causing cold-like symptoms. Winter viruses are generally mild, but parents should watch for fever. lasting more than 3 days.
COVID-19 has not only affected schools, concerts and holidays, it has also disrupted other viruses.
Cases of common respiratory infections have been historically low in recent years, health experts say, as offices closed, students learned virtually and Americans wore masks to combat the coronavirus. But with school in full swing and winter viruses returning to seasonal patterns, hospitals across the country are beginning to fill up with sick children.
“We continue to see a large number of sick children with various respiratory problems,” said Dr. Stan Spinner, vice president and medical director of Texas Children’s Pediatrics and Texas Children’s Urgent Care in Houston. “He was already quite tall before school started, but he has clearly gotten worse and faster than he normally takes.”
Health experts say most hospital admissions are dominated by respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses and enteroviruses, which mostly cause cold-like symptoms including runny nose, sneezing, cough and fever.
But an increasing number of young children are coming to the emergency room this year because they lack immunity from a previous infection, said Dr. Elizabeth Schlaudecker, clinical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
“Many children everywhere are getting these viruses for the first time in quick succession,” he said. “It’s a burden on the health care system because some of these kids are sicker or require health care.”
Viruses on the Rise: CDC Warns Against Enterovirus D68, AFM
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert warning doctors to prepare for an increase in enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), which has been linked to a rare but serious condition called acute flaccid myelitis.
While AFM cases are still rare, the results can be devastating. It affects the nervous system, causing muscle weakness that sometimes leads to permanent paralysis. More than 90% of cases occur in young children, according to the CDC.
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The CDC said the disease has peaked in the US every two years between August and November since 2014, when the agency first began surveillance of AFM. Authorities had expected cases to rise again in 2020, but health experts say pandemic mitigations may have stunted viral transmission.
Surveillance data shows that EV-D68 is back, Schlaudecker said.
“In August, we started seeing a large number of (EV-D68) cases,” he said. “We have seen some correlation with EV-D68 and AFM cases, so we encourage pediatricians and other healthcare providers to be vigilant.”
Fortunately, Schlaudecker has yet to see an increase in AFM cases this year. As of September 28, the CDC reported 19 confirmed cases and 48 cases under investigation.
Get your kids vaccinated against the flu and COVID, experts say
Although these viruses are making a comeback, health experts are also warning parents about the flu and COVID-19.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reported that children account for more than 15% of weekly cases as of September 29, which may not be counted as health experts say some parents are refusing to test their symptomatic children.
Many schools follow CDC guidelines and require students to stay home for at least five days after a positive COVID-19 test, Spinner said. Some parents avoid testing so their children don’t have to stay home.
“If they don’t have a fever or cough like crazy, (some kids) don’t want to miss school and parents don’t want to miss work,” he said.
Winter viruses mostly cause mild illness, but health experts say parents should watch for signs that require medical attention, such as a fever that lasts more than three days, shortness of breath, and vomiting or diarrhea. They also encourage Americans to stay up to date on their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
“Don’t wait until your child is really sick to seek care and get your kids vaccinated against the flu,” Schlaudecker said.
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Source: news.google.com