Utah doctors reporting early onset of child respiratory illnesses
Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Yiting Zhang/CDC via AP
This 2014 file electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows numerous spheroid-shaped enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) virions. Health experts once thought 2020 might be the worst year yet for the rare paralyzing disease that has been hitting U.S. children for the past decade. But they now say the coronavirus pandemic could disrupt the pattern for the mysterious illnesses, which spike every other year starting in late summer.Children in Utah and across the country are becoming sick with respiratory illnesses earlier in the season than usual.
Doctors at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital have been seeing a spike in respiratory syncytial virus, also called RSV, and enterovirus D68, which typically hit during the winter months.
“The COVID pandemic’s first year really disrupted the normal circulation patterns of common respiratory viruses and now they’re coming back — and coming back in unusual ways and different timing,” said Dr. Per Gesteland, a pediatric hospitalist at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and University of Utah Health as well as the creator of GermWatch.org. “RSV hit last year in August and now we’re seeing it come back again a little earlier than usual.”
RSV is a common virus that causes cold-like symptoms. However, in children under the age of 6 months, it can be quite serious, especially if they have underlying heart or lung problems. Enterovirus D68 is also quite common but can also cause severe illness such as wheezing and respiratory distress.
“This year in August, we saw a pretty sharp uptake in kids with wheezing and respiratory distress in the urgent care and emergency department,” Gesteland said. “So we sent a handful of specimens to the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the majority of those came back confirmed as enterovirus D68.”
The virus can also lead to acute flaccid myelitis, which affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis, although Gesteland said it’s very rare.
“If your child has trouble walking or has weakness, you need to get them prompt medical attention,” he said. “This is extremely rare, but it can happen.”
So far, Gesteland said COVID-19 is at a steady low drumbeat at the children’s hospital, although things can quickly change.
“So we’re a little bit unseasonably busy with COVID and a spattering of other respiratory illnesses, but we’re well staffed and are managing things well right now,” he said. “One thing parents can do is to make sure their children are up to date on their vaccinations including flu and COVID. Influenza is starting to rumble a little bit and we’re bracing for a hard flu season.”
Gesteland said in addition to vaccinating your children, continue to practice the usual preventive measures such as hand washing, staying home when sick, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your elbow, and wearing a mask when necessary.