Birmingham, Ala. (Jan. 3, 2025) — Respiratory season is in full swing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seasonal influenza activity continues to increase nationwide. Pediatricians say this, in addition to the large gatherings over the holiday season, can be breeding grounds for illnesses.
Delphene Noland, the Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Children’s of Alabama, says it is vital for parents to remember some of the simple things they can do to keep their children healthy.
“I think the biggest thing we can do is what we have always done,” said Noland. “You want to practice hand hygiene, cover your cough, and make sure your child is vaccinated for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. You want to make sure that you are doing all the little things for your kids, especially our babies.”
Respiratory viruses cause illnesses in the respiratory system. Some of the most common respiratory viral illnesses include the flu, COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Adenovirus, Rhinovirus/Enterovirus (common cold), and parainfluenza. Noland says these illnesses share similar symptoms.
“They usually start with fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, or just a child not feeling well,” said Noland.
Noland says some other warning signs parents need to be aware of are a lack of taste, which is associated with COVID-19, and body aches. She says patients diagnosed with the flu can also have body aches, but with COVID, the symptoms tend to be more severe. Noland says testing is the only way to tell the difference between the illnesses. She also says parents must monitor their children and call the pediatrician if their symptoms become concerning.
“Anytime you are concerned, call your pediatrician,” said Noland. “Typically, we say that it is not the respiratory disease that causes problems in the kids; it’s the complications of those infections. If children have dehydration, are not going to the restroom regularly, or have a fever not controlled with Tylenol or Ibuprofen, or not eating or drinking regularly, you need to call your pediatrician.”
Noland says one key way to prevent respiratory illness is through vaccinations. An RSV vaccine is now recommended for all pregnant women at 32-36 weeks of their pregnancy if the baby will be born during RSV season. This vaccine can protect newborns from severe RSV illness. Doctors can also give babies a new type of shot that contains antibodies against RSV as another way to protect them. It can be given to babies younger than 8 months old during or right before RSV season and babies 8-19 months old who are entering their second RSV season and are at higher risk of getting sick if they acquire an RSV infection. Health care providers also recommend children 6 months and older receive the yearly flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Noland also adds that it is important for parents to remember to teach their children about handwashing.
“We know that many respiratory illnesses start as droplets, so they are on surfaces,” said Noland. “We pick them up with our hands and transport them.”
Noland adds that our hands are the number one transporter of disease. For more information on when your child should wash their hands and the best way to wash your hands, click here.
