“Socialization and child care is really key for us as parents who are working dual jobs, we have to have childcare, so daycare made the most sense, but then we also know there’s high exposure,” Levin said. . She says Aidan has already been exposed to RSV and now has a double ear infection. “It’s definitely a big concern, especially if you have a young baby, because RSV can transform very quickly, it can seem like mild symptoms and then all of a sudden you’re going to have respiratory distress,” Levin said. “We expect this year to be a pretty busy year for viruses,” said Dr. Mark Blumenthal, interim chairman of Pediatrics at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He says RSV cases are skyrocketing among children. Boston Children’s Hospital also began postponing elective surgeries earlier this month, warning families of “significant wait times” for hospital beds due to illnesses like RSV long before the typical flu season even begins. “With the pandemic, the seasonality of the viruses has changed somewhat, so typically you might see something like hand-foot-and-mouth in the summer, RSV in the winter, influenza in the winter, and all of that has changed more recently,” Dr. Blumenthal said. Dr. Blumenthal says RSV spread much earlier this year, and he also expects an uptick in COVID-19 cases soon. “People’s immune systems probably took a break during Covid as everyone was kind of covered up and not going out,” said Dr. Blumenthal. “Now he’s coming back with a bit of a vengeance.” If that wasn’t enough, there’s another virus to be aware of this year as well. “About every other year enterovirus can cause this ascending paralytic syndrome or weakness, and 2022 is one of those years to expect,” said Dr. Blumenthal. While enterovirus can be a concern in some cases, Dr. Blumenthal says these severe cases are quite rare. The story continues “If we’re going to live our lives, then you’re going to be exposed, so I think part of it is just recognizing that your child is going to get sick, and that’s OK,” said Dr. Blumenthal. Doctors say it’s hard to tell which virus your child might have because RSV, COVID and the flu all show similar symptoms like a runny nose, cough or fever. However, some doctors say a sore throat could be an early sign of COVID-19. “I don’t think knowing the virus makes a difference in what you do at home for your child,” said Dr. Blumenthal. But sometimes a child will need to go to hospital, so be on the lookout if your child has difficulty breathing, wheezing, shows signs of dehydration or has a persistent high fever, call their doctor. A simple reminder that many parents may need after living through a pandemic for two and a half years. Dr. Blumenthal says children should also get the flu and coronavirus shots to protect against more severe symptoms, even though these vaccines aren’t perfect. There is currently no vaccine for RSV. Download it FREE Boston 25 News app for emergency notifications. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
