In the fall, rates of viral respiratory illnesses are much higher among children, and may be especially high this year with the full-time return to in-person learning following pandemic lockdowns.
One common illness, respiratory syncytial virus, is reportedly having an earlier spike than usual. However, so far in Oregon, the virus’s activity is not higher than Oregon Health & Science University clinicians expected, according to a press release.
In Clark County, between Sept. 1 and Oct. 26, there were 56 emergency department visits for suspected RSV cases, according to Clark County Public Health data. Of those, 80 percent were children younger than 5, and 38 percent were infants younger than a year.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that most children will have had by age 2. The virus typically causes mild, coldlike symptoms, though it can be serious, especially for infants and older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In more serious cases, the virus can cause pneumonia and impede breathing in infants by inflaming their airways.
Symptoms of RSV typically appear within four to six days after infection, according to Oregon Health & Science University. Typical symptoms include a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, decrease in appetite and fever. More serious symptoms that may indicate a need for medical care include trouble breathing, wheezing or lethargy.