UMC issued the following press release authored by Annie Oeth.
Coughs, sniffles, sore throats and fever.
These
symptoms, along with headaches, muscle soreness and nausea, have been
popping up among Mississippi children this winter, prompting parents to
question whether to take their children to emergency departments, urgent
care or their pediatrician.
“Influenza,
RSV, and the common cold all have a great deal of overlap in symptoms,”
said Dr. Benjamin Dillard, chief of pediatric emergency medicine at
Children’s of Mississippi. “All of these illnesses are related to viral
infections. Further testing might be necessary in some instances.
Influenza is the only illness of the three that we actually have
medications, such as Tamiflu, that work directly against the virus.”
This
comes as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an
active influenza season including at least 26 million flu illnesses,
250,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths. Overall hospitalization
rates throughout the country are similar to this time during recent
seasons, but hospitalization of children and young adults has increased
this season.
Locally,
this year’s flu season has not been as severe as in years past, said
Dr. Bryant McCrary, assistant professor of pediatric ambulatory
medicine, who provides pediatric care at Children’s of Mississippi’s
clinic at Acadian Court in Gulfport.
“We
continue to see Influenza A and B but not in massive numbers,” he said.
“RSV and strep have been steady throughout the winter months .This
winter seems typical of other winters thus far. We have seen some cases
of pertussis (whooping cough).Hence, immunizations continue to be
extremely important for children of all ages to receive.”
Diagnosing
these illnesses can be difficult for parents, since influenza, strep
throat, colds and other winter illnesses can produce symptoms that mimic
an ear infection.
“Ear
pain and sore throat symptoms can occur with any of these viral
illnesses and, depending on the severity of symptoms, may require an
evaluation in your doctor’s office to determine if an ear infection or
streptococcal pharyngitis is present,” Dillard said. “Ear infections can
be diagnosed by physical exam alone. Strep throat can be diagnosed with
a rapid test that is done by swabbing the person’s throat.”
Sorting children’s symptoms can be difficult, but here are clues to the illnesses that could be afoot.
Cold
The
common cold appears gradually with a runny nose and a hacking cough.
Fever, chills and headaches are usually not seen with colds and other
upper respiratory infections. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports
that children can have as many as eight to 10 colds in their first two
years of life. Most colds go away on their own, but sometimes they can
turn into more dangerous conditions including bronchitis, croup and
pneumonia.
Influenza
Human
influenza A and B viruses cause the seasonal outbreaks of disease
nearly every winter in the U.S. Influenza A can be found in many
species, including humans, birds and pigs, while B is typically only
found in humans. They are both extremely contagious and produce similar
symptoms.
Flu
usually comes on suddenly, bringing along symptoms that can include
fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches,
headaches, fatigue and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Most who get the
flu recover within a week or two, but some can develop complications
such as pneumonia that can lead to death. Among those at risk for flu
complications, according to the CDC, are pregnant women and children
younger than 5, and especially children younger than 2.
Croup
Known
for its barking cough, croup is caused by a viral infection of the
voice box and windpipe. Medications may be prescribed to reduce
swelling, but antibiotics won’t fight croup since it is caused by a
virus. Most cases are mild, but croup can sometimes become severe,
leading to blockage of a child’s airway.
Strep throat
Pain
and fever without a cough are common signs of strep throat, or a group A
Streptococcus infection, the CDC says. Other symptoms may include
headaches, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.
However,
these symptoms – cough, runny nose, hoarseness and conjunctivitis, also
known as pink eye – may suggest a virus is the culprit and not Strep A.
Doctors
treat strep throat with antibiotics, given either as orally or as a
shot. These usually have patients feeling better in a day or two. The
CDC recommends calling the doctor if a child isn’t feeling better after
taking antibiotics for 48 hours.
Treating strep throat is important, as untreated strep can lead to rheumatic fever and long-term heart damage.
RSV
Respiratory
Syncytial Virus, or RSV, is the most common cause of lower respiratory
tract infections among children, according to the American Academy of
Pediatrics. Almost all children have had RSV by 2. RSV causes fever, a
runny nose and cough, which in some infants can become a serious
infection that leads to hospitalization.
Babies
who were born prematurely or have lung diseases are at risk for RSV
complications. For this reason, parents, as well as friends, family and
caregivers, should wash their hands with soap and warm water before
handing these babies to avoid RSV, which is highly contagious.
Ear infections
Ear
infections can begin with either a viral infection such as a cold or
unhealthy bacterial growth, according to the AAP website healthychildren.org. Symptoms can include more crying than usual, trouble sleeping or hearing, fever, headaches and fluid coming from the ears.
For
recurrent ear infections, as well as frequent throat and sinus
infections, a referral to an ear, nose and throat specialist may be
appropriate.
Children
having four ear infections in six months, six infections in a year or
an acute ear infection that does not go away after three weeks of taking
antibiotics may be candidates for ear tube surgery, said Dr. Jeff
Carron, professor of otolaryngology and communicative science and an
ear, nose and throat surgeon. This surgery places a tube to equalize
pressure between the middle ear and the environment, allowing extra
fluid to drain out and reducing inflammation.
Tonsillitis
Children
with tonsillitis, whether strep or viral, can be considered for a
tonsillectomy if there are seven infections in a year that require
missed school or a doctor’s visit, or five per year for 2 years, or
three per year for three years, Carron said.
“Kids
with complications of strep such as rash, kidney failure, heart
disease, recurrent tonsil abscesses, or chronic tonsillitis with pain
can be candidates for tonsillectomy sooner,” Carron said.
How to help your child
Keeping
a child comfortable during winter illnesses is key. Promote rest and
drinking plenty of fluids. Keep nasal passages clear, and humidify the
air with a cool-mist vaporizer. Over-the-counter pain medications for
children can help reduce discomfort.
When to go to the ED
Symptoms
that warrant emergency medical care include trouble breathing, bluish
lips or face, dehydration (no urine for eight hours, dry mouth, no tears
when crying), seizures, not alert or interacting when awake, or fever
above 104 degrees, Dillard said.
Other
symptoms that are less severe can be treated through urgent care
centers, which offer care for illnesses that are not serious enough to
warrant emergency room care, or at a visit to your pediatrician or
family health provider.
5 comments:
thanks UMMC but this wont fix a thing... and Ambulance and the ER are the urgent care clinics
You know as well as I do that the first thing thought of will be Coronavirus. Already have heard folks talking about others sneezing and or coughing in that light.
If the poors would stop using the emergency room as a basic medical clinic a lot of problems would be solved.
@9:11 AM, that's a perfect argument for expanding Medicaid. Not only would the ERs be less crowded, hundreds of millions of federal dollars would be infused into the Mississippi economy, by payments to Mississippi hospitals, doctors, nursing homes, nurses, physical therapists and pharmacies.
@9:52 But that can't happen, because hundreds of thousands of poor - and especially poor black citizens - would have access to healthcare and get a leg up. That's not the Mississippi way.....keep them down, down, down.
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