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Local pediatricians have seen an increase in respiratory cases, especially in children.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – If your child is showing signs of a cough or breathing problems, it is not uncommon. Pediatricians say these cases are on the increase.
“We are seeing an increase in respiratory viruses in children over the past two months, especially in something called parainfluenza which causes croup,” said Dr. Michael Applegate, MD of Children First Pediatrics. “We are seeing more of it in the last few months. “
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health notice on June 10 encourage healthcare professionals to test for RSV in patients with acute respiratory illness who are negative for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Dr Applegate said these viruses usually peak in winter, coinciding with cold and flu season, but the pandemic has changed that.
Many children were not in day care during the pandemic. They practiced social distancing and isolation. Now that things are opening up again, they are exposed to more people.
“All of this combination of things has certainly decreased the spread of respiratory disease and that includes wearing a mask,” Dr Applegate said.
How much does wearing a mask contribute to the spread of respiratory disease? Research suggests not that much.
“The Annals of Internal Medicine suggested that if you just isolate the wearing of the mask, there was no statistical difference in reducing some of these respiratory viruses,” Dr. Applegate said.
To help prevent illnesses like croup, be sure to wash your hands and even children’s toys between uses.
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