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Flu, RSV, COVID cases on the rise: Children's Heath
Flu, RSV and COVID cases are all on the rise in North Texas, according to Children's Health. Flu cases were up 93% at Children's Health hospitals last week.
DALLAS - Flu, RSV and COVID cases are all on the rise in North Texas, according to Children's Health.
By The Numbers: Doctor Carla Garcia Carreno, the director of Infection Prevention and control at Children's Medical Center Plano, says system-wide the saw 279 flu cases last week. That's a 93% increase from the previous week.
RSV and COVID-19 cases are also on the rise.
Doctors expect the numbers to get worse in January and February than what we've already seen.
Why It Matters: While adults can recover from respiratory viruses on their own, viruses like RSV can be dangerous for babies.
Respiratory viruses can also cause babies to not drink milk, leading to dehydration.
Doctors say you should be on the lookout for babies with fewer wet diapers, crying without tears or if they have thick saliva.
What You Can Do: There is still time to get vaccines.
Doctors recommend the flu and COVID vaccines for everyone.
The RSV vaccine or antibody treatment is available for babies and toddlers, pregnant women and those over 60.
What They Are Saying: Dr. Carla Garcia Carreno on when to call 911:
"If the babies start having difficulty, breathing, breathing fast, without fever, having retractions, having belly bleeding or belly breathing or head bobbing, or if they turn, either blue or purple, it's really important that you call 911."
Dr. Charles Dunlap, with the Pediatric Associates of Dallas' Plano Office, on when you should go to the doctor:
"I think that decision is easier when you're talking about yourself personally as an adult. But when you're worried about your children, that's a whole different level of anxiety and so what we tell our families is, look, if you're worried about your kid at all being sick, and how sick they are, and you're not sure what to do. Please just call us. We have an active staff of triage nurses that can give you guidance."
RSV, Flu COVID-19 Symptoms
COVID-19
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- New loss of taste or smell
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Flu
- fever* or feeling feverish/chills
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- muscle or body aches
- headaches
- fatigue (tiredness)
- some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
*It's important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
RSV
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Decrease in appetite
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing