By Mary O’KEEFE

There have been a number of reports of a triple threat to the health of children recently: RSV, flu and COVID.

RSV – respiratory syncytial virus – is a respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms in adults but can be serious for infants and toddlers.

“There is everything,” said Dr. John Rodarte, a pediatrician, of what he is seeing in his La Cañada Flintridge office. He added his office is seeing patients with colds, influenza A and strep throat but not as much COVID-19.

The spread of RSV seems to be affecting children in record numbers on the East Coast and, though it hasn’t hit here yet, Rodarte added, it will come to the West Coast.

Normally these viruses spread in the winter months but this year they appear to be spreading earlier. That may be due to the two-and-a-half year gap of children not attending school and wearing facemasks.

“That’s two and a half years of waiting [for viruses] to be passed around,” Rodarte said. “It’s not a surprise to me; the illnesses are not out of the ordinary.”

What Rodarte is seeing in the last two weeks though is an increased number of cases of influenza A. He said children who are old enough to get the flu vaccine should get it even if they have already had the flu. There are more active flu types so protection is important.

“If they haven’t gotten [the flu vaccine] go get it. Don’t wait,” he said.

Flu symptoms include a fever of 103 degrees and body aches.

RSV is another virus that is getting attention by pediatricians on the East Coast.

RSV for most people and older children is like a cold but in infants and toddlers it can be serious.

“The main thing [to look for in RSV] is breathing, not the sound of the cough or even a necessarily high fever but [a heaving chest],” he said.

RSV in infants can cause bronchiolitis, inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, and pneumonia, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC].

Rodarte said there is nothing new about these viruses that are being talked about. People may be pandemic weary and, with kids at home for over two years, have forgotten the regular illnesses that come from sitting in a classroom.

As always, any parent who is concerned about their child’s health should contact their pediatrician and get the flu vaccine. And since most are used to wearing a face covering, put it back on to further protect from the flu and colds.