Shelby mom thankful for catching symptoms of RSV in time
Holidays during RSV and flu season require balance
Parents have been on alert since Halloween, when the number of children being treated for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) showed a significant surge, but it appears pediatric RSV numbers are declining.
“This is good news for our community and our health care teams,” Whitney Minnock, M.D., pediatric chief of emergency at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital (formerly Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak) said, in a news release.
The week of Oct.31-Nov. 6, the hospital treated 577 pediatric patients for RSV. The week of Nov. 7-13, that number dropped to 520 and as of this past week, the cases have dropped to 302.
“The reason for the decline is unknown but could be the result of the disease’s natural progression,” Minnock said. “We can’t be sure if this is permanent or temporary. With influenza cases on the rise in other states and locally, we all must remain vigilant. But on the RSV front, things are moving in the right direction.”
Among the children hospitalized with RSV during the surge was the infant son of Melissa Parker of Shelby Township.
“It happened very quickly,” said the pediatric nurse and mother of three. She suspects her oldest child, age 3, probably brought the virus home from preschool to his infant brothers including Owen who is only 6 weeks old.
“We noticed Owen became lethargic and wasn’t eating. When his upper lip started turning blue, we took him to the emergency room right away,” Parker said. “And thank goodness we did. Infants and young children have no reserve and can decline rapidly.”
At the hospital, Owen received support from a highflow nasal cannula and nasal-prong ventilator, both of which provided oxygen, and a feeding tube. He experienced a lingering cough, which is typical but since coming home from the hospital at the end of October, his condition has stabilized and he’s gaining weight and growing stronger.
As a nurse and mom, Parker recommends parents educate themselves on symptoms, monitor little ones carefully for signs of disease progression and contact their pediatrician or go to the emergency center if necessary.
Thankfully, Parker’s family will be participating in a traditional, multi-generational family Thanksgiving. She did, however, add one important caveat to the invitation. ‘I always ask my family to get their flu shots beforehand,” she said. “But this year, I’ve also said, ‘If you’re feeling sick, it would probably be best to stay home.’”
Dr. Minnock urges families to exercise balance.
“If we head into the holidays and everybody is scared, that is not good for mental health,” Minnock said, who also has four children under the age of 5. “I plan on being with my family this Thanksgiving. But some important precautions will be part of our celebration. Older adults and those with compromised immune systems are at increased risk for complications from RSV and flu.”
Because RSV is not required to be reported to the health department by health care providers it is difficult for the Macomb County Health Department (MCHD) to track county-level trends on RSV.
“That being said, we are aware of the presence of RSV in Macomb County,” said Andrew Cox, director/health officer for MCHD. “(We) strongly recommend prevention strategies for all respiratory illnesses including covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or upper shirt sleeve; washing hands frequently; avoiding close contact such as kissing, shaking hands, sharing cups and eating utensils; and staying home when you do not feel well.”
Specifically, Minnock recommends the following holiday safety precautions:
• If you are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms including fever, runny nose and cough, refrain from attending in-person gatherings. RSV can linger for up to a month, but the highest viral load continues up until 24 hours after the fever has broken. For best results, limit one-on-one contact with others during this time.
• Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Proper hand hygiene is essential to stopping the spread of disease.
• Don’t kiss or touch the face of infants or small children.
• If you haven’t already done so, get your flu shot.
These precautions will help to combat the spread among children and adults. While cases among children at Corewell Health showed a decline, system-wide numbers for adult patients treated for RSV were up slightly.
“It’s still too early to know if we are over the hump,” Minnock said. “Post-Thanksgiving numbers will provide more information. But we are moving in the right direction. With other states already experiencing a surge in influenza, we are expecting flu to become a concern in Michigan as well.”