MADISON, Wis. — Cases of respiratory syncytial virus — RSV — are hitting earlier than usual in Wisconsin this year, and hospitals are feeling the impact.
At the American Family Children’s Hospital, case numbers are more than triple what they were at this point last year and are not showing signs of slowing down, UW Health said Thursday. Overall, the hospital is seeing record numbers of patients in its emergency department, with most coming in with RSV and other upper respiratory diseases.
Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee is also seeing an increase, hospital officials said earlier this week.
“I don’t think we’ve peaked yet,” Dr. Joshua Ross, American Family Children’s Hospital’s chief medical officer, said. “Meanwhile, our (emergency departments) and urgent cares are completely packed full… and then (we have) full hospitals. We’re getting calls from around the region for hospital beds because other pediatric hospitals are in a similar situation.”
Compounding the issue is the arrival of the flu season and the continued COVID-19 spread, he added.
Data shows a steep increase in cases this fall, while typically cases peak in the winter months, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
“This is something that we normally see in the middle of winter, it’s come on very soon,” Thomas Haupt, an epidemiologist from DHS’ Division of Public Health, said Wednesday. “Why it’s come on so soon this year and last year, we really don’t know the answer.”
More than 350 pediatric patients at UW Health Kids have tested positive for RSV in the first few weeks of October. Ross said many kids had limited exposure to respiratory viruses amid the pandemic, so they may be getting sick for the first time as their bodies begin to build their immune systems.
Children with underlying diseases or infants are most affected. For most, RSV brings mild cold-like symptoms like cough, scratchy throat and fever.
Parents should pay attention to how fast their children are breathing. Those who are breathing between 60 and 80 times per minute and who have a fever that won’t break should go see a doctor.
Experts expect the virus to continue to spread as we enter a colder season, but there are things people can do to prevent the spread. Health officials are urging people to stay up-to-date on their flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
Ross does not recommend over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children with RSV, saying they could cause more complications. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used, he said, to help reduce fevers.
“My overall message is awareness,” Ross said. “There’s a lot of viruses circulating and you want to keep your family safe, and especially knowing that our healthcare system is strained — that’s a reality — but to not be afraid to seek care if your child needs it.”
UW Health said parents should call their childrens’ primary care doctor for advice before visiting urgent care or the emergency room.
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