DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – Local doctors warn to watch out for symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus, more commonly known as RSV.
Dr. Doug Carlson, medical director of HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital, said an increasing number of children are requiring hospitalization for RSV. He said children’s hospitals have seen 12 children who need to be admitted for RSV.
“I don’t know how long this will last,” Carlson said. “We may not have enough beds for sick children for weeks.”
As cases surge, parents of immunocompromised children are especially concerned about their children’s safety. Jessica Wolfe has a 4-year-old daughter and her 8-month-old son. She says her family had to cut themselves off from the outside world because they worried their children would catch her RSV and other seasonal illnesses.
“My daughter and son haven’t met their cousins yet. This is really hard,” Wolff said.
Dr. Carlson says this is an effective way to combat RSV. By limiting our social circles, we reduce our exposure to outside diseases.
“Exposure to non-primary caregivers should be limited, and should be limited among caregivers who have a cold,” Dr. Carlson said. Please attach.”
Wolff says he constantly tracks medical concerns to see which facilities are open for children in case they need treatment.
“We are looking at PICU beds and pediatric beds across the state and doing what we do best,” said Wolff.
Dr. Purvi Bhandari, director of pediatrics at the Springfield Clinic, says RSV is particularly difficult to prevent because you don’t always know if you have it.
“Many people may not realize they’re sick because they don’t have a fever and don’t feel tired,” Dr. Bhandari says. I think it’s just sipping. It could be an allergy, it could be a cold or RSV.”
Copyright 2022. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
