GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – With COVID-19 spreading rapidly throughout the community and flu season upon us, local health officials say there’s another virus parents of children should look out for.
Aurora BayCare says it’s seeing an unseasonable jump in respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, this summer and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. Infants struggle with RSV because their small airways can fill with mucus and make it difficult to breathe. Hospitalization rates for RSV are approximately 15 to 16 times higher than for influenza for children under a year old.
According to Dr. Donald Beno, a pediatrician at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, the hospital is seeing its RSV positivity rate go up at a rate usually only seen in peak season in November/December.
He believes they are seeing a rise now because last fall/winter many people were masked up for COVID. Masking this year has been more relaxed.
Dr. Beno says RSV signs are fever, congestion and lots of mucus and snot. Parents can use a vaporizer or humidifier with plain water or suction to get out mucus. But if a fever persists, or your child struggles to breathe and shows signs of color change, see a doctor right away.
