Call a Primary-care Doctor First for Your Child’s Respiratory Illness

SPRINGFIELD — Children’s hospitals and their emergency departments across the country, including Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield, are experiencing an unprecedented spike in early cases of respiratory illness that are filling their hospital and emergency beds to capacity.

“Our region is seeing a surge in respiratory viruses that more typically peak in the winter. These viruses can cause mild to moderate, even severe symptoms. Children who may not have had recent exposures to these viruses are now getting sick from them, and many are getting sicker than usual,” said Dr. Charlotte Boney, pediatrician-in-chief at Baystate Children’s Hospital, who noted many parents are turning to the Emergency Department for care before checking with their pediatrician first.

The respiratory bugs striking early and currently contributing to packed hospitals this fall include RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), enterovirus, and rhinovirus.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than age 1 in the U.S.

Many different respiratory viruses can cause the common cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common. Rhinoviruses can also trigger asthma attacks and have been linked to sinus and ear infections.

Most people who get infected with non-polio enteroviruses do not get sick, or they only have mild illness, like the common cold. Symptoms of mild illness can include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, skin rash, mouth blisters, and body and muscle aches.

The Sadowsky Family Pediatric Emergency Department at Baystate Children’s Hospital provides treatment for medical emergencies 24/7.

“While the Pediatric Emergency Department is experiencing long wait times because of the surge in these respiratory illnesses, we ask that, if your child has a runny nose, cough, fever, or sore throat, to please call your child’s primary-care provider first to discuss your child’s symptoms,” Boney said. “In mild to moderate cases, fluids and symptom relief for fever, congestion, and cough can be helpful.”

She recommends visiting the Pediatric Emergency Department if the child experiences difficulty breathing, is unable to drink fluids and has not had a wet diaper or urinated at least once in the past day, has fever and is not feeling better an hour after fever-reduction medicine, or has underlying medical problems like asthma that increases risk for complications from respiratory infections.

There is still the flu to take into account. While not foolproof, the type of flu season Australia experiences during its winter season could be a sign for what is to come here in the U.S. Australian winter runs from June through August, and according to the country’s Department of Health and Aged Care, it was its worst flu season in five years.

Increased flu vaccination for both adults and children could help reduce the risk of a more severe flu season, which would result in what health professionals are calling a possible twindemic of flu and COVID-19.

“Be sure you and your child get your yearly influenza vaccine right now and your COVID booster when eligible,” Boney said.