Respiratory illnesses in children are double compared to last year

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-Twice as many children are coming down with respiratory illnesses compared to this time last year. 

Norton Children’s Hospital’s Dr. Scott Bickel says this is an unseasonal spike…respiratory illnesses like RSV, rhinovirus and enterovirus are usually more common in winter. 

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) can be deadly in infants and kids with other serious medical conditions like asthma or heart disease. 

Symptoms may mirror a common cold, such as a cough, runny nose or fever. If they worsen, then it’s time to head to the doctor. 

“Specifically you want to look for labored breathing so if they’re breathing faster than usual, if their skin is tugging around their belly or in between or under their ribs, or certainly if you start seeing tugging of the skin around their neck or nose those are things that might indicate that your child is in respiratory distress,” said Dr. Bickel. 

Dr. Bickel says the best way to prevent getting sick is to be aware of symptoms, stay on top of medications and to get a flu shot.