Like other pediatric offices across the country, we are experiencing a large volume of illness at this time, including many cases of RSV and influenza A. You may experience less appointment availability for ill visits, longer wait times in clinic, and longer wait times for providers and triage nurses to return phone calls or portal messages.
We appreciate your patience and kindness as we work our hardest to provide care to as many patients as possible.
Many viral illness symptoms, including those caused by influenza and RSV, can be managed at home with symptomatic cares and/or over the counter medications and do not require an office visit.
We encourage you to continue to use home antigen tests for COVID-19 when appropriate.
What is RSV?
Respiratory syncytial virus is an infection that affects the lungs and breathing passageways. For older children, this may just feel like a common cold. However, for infants and younger children this may develop into a respiratory illness. Normally, we expect RSV to be a full week of illness with day 3-4 being the peak of illness before improving.
Symptoms of RSV include:
- coughing
- fast breathing
- wheezing
- difficulty breathing
- lethargy and more
Find more information on RSV symptoms and Prevention here
What is Flu?
Flu—short for influenza—is an illness caused by a respiratory virus. The flu can spread rapidly through communities, as the virus is passed person to person.
When someone with the flu coughs or sneezes, the influenza virus gets into the air. Then, people nearby, including children, can inhale it through the nose or mouth.
The virus also can be spread when people touch a contaminated hard surface, such as a door handle, and then put their hands or fingers in their nose or mouth, or rub their eyes.
Flu symptoms include:
- A sudden fever (usually above 100.4°F or 38°C)
- Chills
- Headache, body aches, and being a lot more tired than usual
- Sore throat
- Dry, hacking cough
- Stuffy, runny nose
- Some children may throw up (vomit) and have loose stools (diarrhea).
Find more information on Flu symptoms and prevention here