Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been rising in many parts of the US for a few months now, especially among babies and toddlers. Dr. David Winter at Baylor Scott & White Health explained that this is because infants and younger children have younger lungs and younger chest wall muscles that make it harder for them to get into the secretions as well as older children.
Due to the increasing cases of pediatric respiratory viruses, medical professionals are concerned about shortages of hospital staff and beds. Local governments have issued orders to help hospitals combat rising cases of these diseases, especially as this time of the year is also known as flu season.
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Understaffed Hospitals During Flu Season
During a media briefing on November 10, Dr. Tom Jeanne the deputy health officer and deputy epidemiologist at Oregon Health Authority said that the RSV has caused pediatric hospitalizations to more than triple between October 29 to November 5. They also expect that other respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19, and flu virus will be at higher levels than in previous years.
The Democrat-Herald reports that children are mainly affected by RSV and health experts are having a hard time with staffing and having enough beds for patients.
Healthcare workers were overloaded with work during the pandemic that now part of the staffing issue is due to burnout. It is a national trend that affected different personnel in the medical field, from nurses to respiratory therapists.
Dr. Julia Paz, a pediatric hospitalist at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, said that staffing shortages and a lack of beds often go hand in hand. Local emergency departments might refer patients to nearby hospitals with fewer beds available depending on staffing.
Due to a shortage of available beds, community hospitals take in more severe patients instead of referring them to pediatric intensive care units. When ICU beds are not available or there are difficulty staffing transport teams, community hospitals take on more patients.
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Staying Healthy and Improving Immunity
The RSV hospitalization rate for children nearly quadrupled between October 29 to November 5 from 2.2 to 8.7 cases per 100,000 population and then slightly dropped by November 12 to 5.6 cases per 100,000 population, per Tillamook County Proper's report.
Meanwhile, the RSV hospitalization rates among adults have been lower but older adults remain at risk of serious illness due to the virus. Since emergency departments in some states are overflowing, medical professionals need to ensure that families have access to emergency care, especially when they face serious, life-threatening medical emergencies.
As the news outlet reported, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) published some tips to stay healthy and avoid unnecessary hospital visits during the season. These tips include:
- Getting a flu shot to stay updated on COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters
- Cover when coughing and sneezing.
- Clean high-touch surfaces and regularly wash your hands.
- Wear a mask indoors, especially during gatherings and events.
- Parents and caregivers should ask people around infants to wear masks to prevent viral transmission.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms and most infections go away on their own. For people experiencing mild symptoms, they should:
- Stay at home and avoid gatherings.
- Manage fever and pain with over-the-counter medications.
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid being dehydrated.
- Consult a healthcare provider before giving OTC cold medicines that are not indicated for a child's age group.
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