As cases of respiratory viruses are expected to pick up in the coming weeks, parents are recommended to closely monitor their child’s symptoms and know when they warrant immediate care, according to a D.C. doctor who works in a local emergency department.
The fall season marks the beginning of a “heavy respiratory season,” during which doctors see a significant increase in asthma in babies and younger kids, says Dr. Jennifer Chapman, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children’s National Hospital.
They also see a lot of chest congestion and wheezing, which doctors call bronchiolitis.
When parents are considering whether to take a sick child to the emergency room, calling a pediatrician, or the nurse advice line during off hours, is an essential first step, Chapman said.
Difficulty breathing could mean it’s time to consider emergency care, and Chapman recommended raising a child’s shirt to determine whether their ribs are outlined when they breathe. That, she said, is an indication of difficulty breathing.
Young babies and children won’t be able to drink effectively if they’re experiencing that trouble, Chapman said, “because it’s hard to breathe heavily and drink simultaneously.”
“A combination of rapid breathing, poor intake of fluids would be reasons to reach out to your pediatrician, and if there’s any concern, to go to the emergency department,” Chapman said.
Parents of kids with asthma have an extra symptom to watch out for. If a parent is reaching for albuterol inhalers — which are supposed to help open air passages — more often than every four hours because of excessive coughing or difficulty breathing, “then certainly, that’s a child who needs to be seen promptly, whether in the (doctor’s) office or in the emergency department,” Chapman said.
In most cases, babies and young children are most vulnerable to respiratory viruses, which start in the nose and move down into the chest. That can cause wheezing and chest congestion.
“The younger the child and the baby, the more vulnerable they are to these respiratory infections, and that’s the group that deserves closer watching by either your pediatrician or coming to the emergency department,” Chapman said.
Currently, “we’re on the cusp of RSV season,” Chapman said, and flu season starts a bit later. COVID waves are harder to predict, she said.
It’s normal for healthy kids to be sick between six, eight or 10 times a year, Chapman said, and parents with concerns should contact a doctor.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
