Dr. Olivia Ostrow & Dr. Janet Reynolds,
Nov 15 2021
Colder climate is upon us once more — and so is chilly and flu season. Practically two years into the battle in opposition to COVID-19, we welcome youngsters returning to colleges, daycare and sports activities. However with the loosening of restrictions and elevated social contacts, we’re additionally now seeing elevated circulation of widespread seasonal respiratory viruses.
Youngsters are experiencing cough and chilly signs together with fever, congestion and sore throat as a result of different respiratory viruses co-circulating together with COVID-19. Whereas an occasional chilly is a typical a part of childhood, diseases immediately include added stress, anxiousness and challenges for households.
Chilly and flu signs typically imply time away from faculty, daycare and different actions, plus a visit for a COVID-19 check. That may additionally imply sleepless nights caring for a sick little one whereas additionally navigating private and work calls for.
For a lot of, these challenges don’t finish with a destructive COVID-19 check.
Usually youngsters proceed to expertise chilly signs for days and generally weeks as a result of respiratory viruses. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it might even be troublesome to get in-person medical care for teenagers with these signs when wanted.
Some mother and father are even ready in lengthy strains within the emergency division if they aren’t capable of get their little one seen in individual by their healthcare supplier. This could be a worrying expertise for fogeys and kids, and result in longer wait instances for many who really want emergency division care.
Some mother and father could ask their physician for an antibiotic for his or her little one with the hope that the antibiotic will shortly clear up the fever, cough and different signs their little one is experiencing. Sadly, antibiotics solely work for bacterial infections and don’t assist respiratory viruses. In reality, pointless prescriptions and use of antibiotics could be dangerous to children and might result in undesirable side-effects, together with abdomen upset and diarrhea.
Importantly, if antibiotics are used unnecessarily, they could not work as effectively when they’re actually wanted.
The added complication of the pandemic is that youngsters with any viral signs, equivalent to an remoted cough, are being requested to remain residence from faculty and different settings till their signs absolutely resolve. However antibiotics are usually not the reply.
Over-the-counter cough and chilly syrups and drugs additionally usually don’t work and are usually not protected for kids 5 years of age and youthful.
The fact is that we wouldn’t have a fast repair for chilly and flu signs. Signs are inclined to go away on their very own and get higher with supportive therapies together with a number of relaxation, fluids and over-the-counter drugs to handle fevers, aches and pains.
As healthcare suppliers, we would like children’ chilly signs to go away as shortly as doable too. It’s vital to make sure that routine childhood vaccinations are up-to-date and, in case your little one is six months of age or older, they need to get a yearly flu shot. Regardless of these measures, experiencing an occasional respiratory virus is a standard a part of childhood. The decision of chilly and flu signs typically requires time and endurance.
Do speak to your healthcare supplier when you’ve got issues about your little one’s signs as a way to make clear their analysis and be taught what you are able to do to assist them really feel higher this chilly and flu season.
Dr. Olivia Ostrow is a pediatric emergency doctor on the Hospital for Sick Kids,
the Affiliate Director for the Centre for High quality Enchancment and Affected person Security (CQuIPS) and
an assistant professor within the Division of Pediatrics, College of Toronto.
Dr. Janet Reynolds is a household doctor in Calgary, Alberta, and Medical Director of Crowfoot Village Household Apply.
