St. Luke’s University Health Network is making the public aware of an increase in Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases in the Lehigh Valley.

“Many children three years of age and under are seeing RSV for the first time,” Sam Kennedy, corporate communications director for St. Luke’s said.

“It can’t be known with certainty how long this pediatric surge will last, but we can say with certainty that St. Luke’s and our pediatric team remain committed to caring for all children in the community who are depending on us now more than ever,” Jennifer Janco, M.D., St. Luke’s Pediatrics chairwoman said.

St. Luke’s provided the following RSV facts:

•About 90% of children will get RSV by the time they are 2 years of age

•Only 1-2% of children under 12 months old with RSV will require hospitalization

•Most will have upper respiratory symptoms (i.e., cough and congestion)

•Some (20-30%) develop lower respiratory tract symptoms with the first infection

-Wheezing, pneumonia

-Most healthy infants with RSV bronchiolitis do not require hospitalization

-Most hospitalized infants with RSV improve within 2-3 days

•Reinfection is common but subsequent infections are usually less severe than the first

•There is no vaccine or special medicine to treat RSV infection

•Unlike COVID-19, there is no need for RSV testing outside of the hospital setting; it’s not going to change how your child is treated

St. Luke’s primary care and urgent care offices do not offer testing to confirm RSV.

RSV symptoms are typically at their worst on days 3 through 5 of illness but symptoms often linger for several days or even a few weeks, according to St. Luke’s. They said almost all children recover from an RSV infection on their own.

Parents should seek care right away if children experience:

•Symptoms of labored breathing such as using extra muscles in the ribs or stomach to breathe or breathing much faster than normal

•Symptoms of dehydration (fewer than 1 wet diaper every 8 hours)

•Gray or blue color of the tongue, lip or skin

St. Luke’s Pediatrics said there are ways to be prepared and to set children up for a healthier winter season:

“Get yourself and your child vaccinated. Vaccines are an effective way to reduce the severity of symptoms – or prevent infections entirely. While there is currently no vaccine for RSV, vaccines for COVID-19 and for influenza (“the flu”) are available for children 6 months of age and older.

“Choose an appropriate level of care. Children with minor to moderate symptoms may not need a provider visit. When seeking care, choosing the right location means easy access to a convenient, personalized treatment plan and potentially avoiding unnecessary wait times.

“Outpatient care with your provider is often your best place to start. Some advice over the phone can help guide you through most illnesses – and let you know what signs warrant a visit.”

To learn more about when to seek medical treatment, visit the following link: healthychildren.org.

Janco said parents should encourage handwashing, avoid exposure to anyone who is sick and stay away from large groups.

Have necessary supplies on hand such as a thermometer, fever reducer, Pedialyte to help with hydration and nasal saline and bulb suction to clear nasal secretions.

While some of the symptoms of these illnesses overlap and the treatment of them in the pediatric patient is largely the same, there may be other factors to consider, Janco said. One is the child’s underlying health status and another is the contacts of the sick child. For example, if a sick child normally spends time with elderly grandparents who are themselves at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or flu, additional precautions would be appropriate. Parents with questions can seek advice from their pediatrician.