A dangerous virus is spreading among children in the United States: there are not enough places in hospitals

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most children become infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) before they are 2 years old. As a rule, the disease proceeds in a mild form. Symptoms may look like a common cold and include a runny nose, decreased appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever, and difficulty breathing. They last a week or two and go away with rest and fluid intake. But this is not always the case. The edition told in more detail CNN.

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In some children, especially infants, RSV can be dangerous and can lead to dehydration, breathing problems, and more serious illnesses. Some physicians report that there is now an unprecedented increase in RSV cases among children in the US.

The CDC does not track hospitalizations or deaths from RSV like it does from the flu, but said many regions of the country are seeing an increase in RSV cases. Several children's hospitals have reported that they are overwhelmed with patients.

Overall, according to federal data, pediatric hospital beds are more full than they have been in the last two years.

The US Department of Health and Human Services does not specify the reason for the hospitalization, but about three-quarters of the country's pediatric hospital beds are now in use. By comparison, pediatric hospital beds have been about two-thirds full on average over the past two years.

"Never seen this level of surge"

Due to the RSV surge, UH Rainbow Babies in Colorado had so many patients that the hospital was unable to make emergency admissions for several days in early October. She is now accepting patients again, but is still crammed with RSV-affected patients.

Connecticut has experienced such a dramatic increase in illness that the Connecticut Children's Hospital is coordinating with the governor and the commissioner of public health to determine whether it should bring in the National Guard to expand its capacity to care for young patients.

“I have been doing this for a long time, because I have been working at the Children's Hospital of Connecticut for 25 years and have never seen such a surge in RSV,” said doctor Juan Salazar.

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In Texas, where RSV cases usually flare up in December or January, the emergency room at Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth is already reporting a significant number of RSV cases.

According to hospital spokesman Kim Brown, nearly half of intensive care units are filled with patients with RSV. From 2 to 8 October, 210 cases of RSV were reported at Cook's Daycare; a week later there were 288.

Four-month-old Lindy Jeff and Zoe Green were hospitalized on Sunday.

At the hospital, Lindy's fever was so high that at one point ice packs had to be used to cool her down.

Some physicians report that there is now an unprecedented rise in RSV cases among children in the US.

"I don't know how, but she slept with those ice packs," Zoe Green said holding an emaciated Lindy in the hospital. She said they were trying to keep her hydrated so she wouldn't have to put her on an IV again.

Dr. Mallory Davis, an infection prevention specialist at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, says there is an early spike in RSV cases.

“Hospitals are full, there are a lot of cases. We are trying to figure out how to accommodate all sick children,” she said.

Children's Hospital in Colorado also has an early spike in RSV admissions. The first few cases of influenza this season have been reported, said Dr. Kevin Messakar, an infectious disease specialist and assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

“We have seen an increase in the number of patients since the end of the summer, which began with rhinoviruses and enteroviruses when the children returned to school, and now it is RSV and parainfluenza,” he stated. “With flu season rapidly approaching, which appears to have started early, we are concerned about the ever-increasing number of sick children requiring hospitalization.”

UH Rainbow Babies staff hope the situation doesn't get worse.

"I think we've reached the peak now and there won't be any more sick people," said Dr. Amy Edwards, associate medical director for pediatric infection control.

RSV-infected patients can often fill hospitals even during normal seasons, Edwards said. There are not many treatments, and in severe cases, several days of maintenance therapy may be required.

Sick children "need oxygen support, so they can't stay at home," she said.

Cases in the US could also skyrocket due to the phase of the COVID-19 pandemic we are in, experts believe.

When everyone stayed at home in 2020 and 2021 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it seemed to change the typical RSV season. The number of cases was low and this created an "immunity gap".

Children who usually contracted the virus in those years are now becoming infected instead.

Who is vulnerable to RSV

It is a highly contagious virus, but it often does not cause serious illness, except in older people with chronic heart or lung disease, or a weakened immune system in some infants and children.

There is no specific treatment for RSV and no vaccine. Symptoms usually last a week or two and resolve with plenty of fluids and rest.

However, for some children, it can be a much more serious condition. The CDC says RSV can be especially dangerous for premature babies, newborns, children with weakened immune systems or neuromuscular disorders, and babies under 2 years of age with chronic lung and heart disease.

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RSV can progress to bronchiolitis, in which the small airways become inflamed and congested, or pneumonia. The child may need to be hospitalized so they can receive supplemental oxygen or even a ventilator to help them breathe easier.

How RSV is spread

An infected person can pass RSV through coughing or sneezing. If respiratory droplets land on a surface, such as a doorknob or table, and someone else touches it and then touches their face, they can get sick.

It is usually such a mild illness that adults often don't realize they have it, or think it's nothing more than a cold or an allergy, and keep interacting with others.

"It's a non-fatiguing virus, like the flu or the coronavirus, so you really feel good," Edwards said. “And then it happens like this: your neighbor has a beautiful child, and you bring a casserole, kiss this little child, because you feel good, you don’t feel sick. And, unfortunately, you pass on the disease to him, after which he ends up in the hospital.

Older siblings can also pass the virus on to younger ones.

“Babies are drooling over toys and each other and everything, which is why kindergarteners are also transmitting the virus,” Edwards said.

If your child is coughing or lethargic, or if he just doesn't seem like himself, it's a good idea to take him to the pediatrician. There will be tests at the doctor's office to see if it's RSV, the flu, COVID-19, or strep.

Pediatricians say a trip to the emergency room may be necessary if the child is: dehydrated; difficult, shallow or rapid breathing; high fever or bluish skin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most patients get better with supportive care. They can often return home after a few days.

How to prevent RSV

Doctors say the best way to prevent RSV infection is to teach children to cough and sneeze into a tissue or into their elbows, not into their hands. Try to keep surfaces that are frequently touched clean.

"Hand hygiene is the single most important thing we can do to keep ourselves and others safe," said Davis of Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. She tells people never to touch their face unless they have recently washed their hands.

When children or adults get sick, there is only one thing they need to do, she said: "Stay at home while you are sick so you don't spread any respiratory disease you have."

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