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DALLAS – North Texas pediatrician offices are inundated with sick children, which is highly unusual for the summer season.
The masks were definitely effective in keeping children healthier. But now, with so many masks removed, there isn’t much immunity to typical seasonal viruses. This can cause viruses to spread faster than normal.
Dr Charles Dunlap of Pediatric Associates of Dallas echoes what pediatricians across the country are seeing now: a dramatic increase in childhood illnesses.
“We are seeing an increase in winter levels of RSV, a significant outbreak of hand, foot and mouth viruses, rhinoviruses and even summer flu,” he said.
And all this happens before the start of the school year.
“Quite the perfect storm, in my opinion,” the doctor said.
Last week, Children’s Health said 249 children tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Cook Children’s saw 190 cases of RSV.
Dr Dunlap says RSV is most serious for babies and toddlers.
“For children under 2 and infants, this causes a syndrome we call bronchiolitis, which is the production of mucus in the lower respiratory tract, wheezing, respiratory distress and rapid breathing,” t -he declares. “It’s bad enough to hospitalize children.”
Dr Dunlap is a big supporter of masking, but he points to a correlation between masking and the virus’s summer peak.
“Masking can delay the inevitable, but that’s the protective value when people can’t get the shot,” he said. “The advantages outweigh the disadvantages, even though they delay some of the common illnesses.”
On top of that, pediatric hospitals are still seeing an increase in hospitalizations for COVID.
Children’s Health has 22 children hospitalized for COVID while Cook Children’s has 23 hospitalizations.
Between COVID and RSV, Dr Dunlap advises parents to never hesitate to call if their child is having trouble breathing.
“If you are concerned that your child is having difficulty, it may be a call to 911,” he said. “But most of the time, if you are coughing and breathing fast, a pediatrician is the first choice.”
Dr Dunlap urges parents to be patient with wait times when calling their pediatrician with non-urgent questions. He says it’s always a good idea for people to stick to their well visit appointments.
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