Pediatricians: COVID-19 cases down, cases of other viruses up
Doctors say recent rollback of mitigation measures is leading kids to catch viruses often more prevalent in winter.
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Updated: 8:57 AM PDT Jun 16, 2021
NBC AND WD.SU >> IT IS CRAZY IT IS GOING AROUND AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. GINA: AS THE WLDOR RETURNS TO NORM,AL SOME VIRUSES OTHER THAN COVID-19 ARE COMING BACK AS WELL. TRAVERS: DR. SAY THAT IS ESPECIALLY THE CASE WITH CHILDREN. HARRONIS GOLD IN HIS LIFE IN CITY PARK WHERE HE MET PARENTS ALL TOO FAMILIAR COLDS AND FLU’S. HARRISON? HARRIS:ON THOSE PARENTS BY THE WAY HAVE A MESSAGE HERE TODAY. IF YOU ARE THE PARENT OF A KID WHO HASN’T BEEN FEELING WELL LATELY, THEY WANT YOTOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE. >> I KNOW IT HAS BEEGON ING AROUND. HARRISON: THIS IS STEPHANIE. >> THIS IS BABY JACK. HARRISON: JACKS ITHREE MONTHS OLD, HIS BROTHER IS TWO YEARS OLD. BOTH RECENTLY GOT RSV. SYMPTOMS RESEMBLE THOSE OF COVID-19. >> IT WAS A SCARY TIME. >> IT WAS ALL THE THINGS. ALL THE STUFF IS EXPELLING. HARRIS:ON ANDRE'’ SON WAS SICK RECENTLY, TOO. >> LASTS ABOUT 10 DAYS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME REALLY. I DON’T KNOW IF THAT WAS FROM AROUND BEING AROUND OTHER KIDS. >> WHEN WE ISOLATEANDD MASKED TO PROTECT FROM ONE VIRUS, COVID-19, WE BASICLYAL PROTECTED OUR CHILDREN AND OURSELVES AGAINST LAL VIRUSES AND THAT WAS FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR, SO THINGS REALLY DIED DOWN. HARRISON: NOW WITH FEWER MASKS, LESS DISTANCING, AND MORE TIVIACTIES, ONE PEDIATRICIAN SAYS MORE CHILDREN ARE ADDING VIRUSES THEY WOULD GET IN WINTER MONTHS. >> IT IS SORT OF LIKE WITH YOUR AND A HALFF O SHUTDOWN, A YEAR AND A HALF OF KIDS WHO HAVE NOT ENBE EXPOSED TO ANY VIRUSES, SO THATAY M AOUNTCC TO WHY WE ARE SEEING SOANY, M ESPECIALLY AT AN UNUSUAL TIME OF THE YEAR. HARRIS:ON THE COLD, FLU, AND RSV SURGE IS HIGHER THAN USUAL, BUT LIKE COVID-19, IT IS FIXABLE. >> WREHE IT WILL END, WE DON’T KNOW, BUT WE DO THINK PEOPLE ARE WISER ABOUT HANDWASHING, MASKING , JUST WHEN YOU ARE SICK SEPARATING FROM OTHER PEOPLE. >> ALL THESE PRECAUTNSIO THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE OUTSIDE AND IT IS HOT OUT SIDE, THERE ARE THINGS LIKE THAT GOING ARODUN AND IT IS STILL OUT THERE. HARRONIS DOCTORS STILL SUGGEST YOU COULD GET TESTED FOR COVI19D-, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING A COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, OR LOSS OF TASTE OR SMELL. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS ILSTL A FACTOR.
Pediatricians: COVID-19 cases down, cases of other viruses up
Doctors say recent rollback of mitigation measures is leading kids to catch viruses often more prevalent in winter.
![WDSU logo]()
Updated: 8:57 AM PDT Jun 16, 2021
The number of COVID-19 cases may be going down, but doctors remain concerned about other viruses on the rise — particularly among children.Pediatricians report seeing more kids with the common cold, influenza, stomach bugs and Respiratory Syncytial Virus, illnesses that often more prevalent during winter. But Dr. William Lennarz with Ochsner Hospital for Children in Louisiana says more children are catching them now as COVID-19 mitigation measures loosen."When we isolated and masked to protect from one virus, COVID-19, we basically protected children and ourselves against all viruses," he said. "That may be why we're seeing so many at a very unusual time of the year."But Lennarz says the cold, flu and RSV surge, like COVID-19, is fixable. And the fixes may seem familiar."Where it will end, we don't know," he said. "But we do think people are wiser about handwashing, masking, when you're sick, separating from other people."Doctors still suggest kids get tested for COVID-19, especially if they have a cough, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell.
NEW ORLEANS — The number of COVID-19 cases may be going down, but doctors remain concerned about other viruses on the rise — particularly among children.
Pediatricians report seeing more kids with the common cold, influenza, stomach bugs and Respiratory Syncytial Virus, illnesses that often more prevalent during winter. But Dr. William Lennarz with Ochsner Hospital for Children in Louisiana says more children are catching them now as COVID-19 mitigation measures loosen.
"When we isolated and masked to protect from one virus, COVID-19, we basically protected children and ourselves against all viruses," he said. "That may be why we're seeing so many at a very unusual time of the year."
But Lennarz says the cold, flu and RSV surge, like COVID-19, is fixable. And the fixes may seem familiar.
"Where it will end, we don't know," he said. "But we do think people are wiser about handwashing, masking, when you're sick, separating from other people."
Doctors still suggest kids get tested for COVID-19, especially if they have a cough, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell.
