A common respiratory virus is spreading at unusually high levels, overwhelming children’s hospitals

A common respiratory virus is spreading at unusually high levels, overwhelming children’s hospitals   The US Centers Disease Control and Prevention says most children will catch RSV at some point before they turn 2, with most cases being mild – but hospitals across the country are reporting an “unprecedented” rise in cases of this respiratory disease this season.   Experts think US cases might be spiking now because of the phase of the Covid-19 pandemic that we’re in.   When everyone stayed home in 2020 and 2021 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it seemed to change the typical RSV season. Case counts were low, and that created an “immunity gap.”   Kids who normally would have caught the virus in those years are instead catching it now.   RSV can be especially concerning for young infants, as it can lead to dehydration, breathing trouble and more serious illnesses such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia. It can also cause serious illness in adults who are elderly or have chronic heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system.   There’s no specific treatment for RSV and no vaccine, but identifying symptoms can help parents decide what steps to take next.   If your child is coughing or lethargic, or if they just don’t seem like themselves, it’s a good idea to take them to their pediatrician. The doctor’s office will have the tests to figure out if they might have RSV, the flu, Covid-19 or strep.   A trip to the ER may be necessary if a baby is dehydrated; if they have difficult, labored, shallow or rapid breathing; if they have a high fever or bluish skin; or if they become unresponsive. The CDC says most improve with supportive care and can often go home after a few days.   The best ways to prevent RSV infections, doctors say, is to teach kids to cough and sneeze into a tissue or into their elbows rather than their hands. Also try to keep frequently touched surfaces clean.   “Hand hygiene is the single most important thing that we can do to keep ourselves and others safe,” said Dr. Mallory Davis, an infection preventionist at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She tells people to never touch their faces unless they’ve recently washed their hands.