How to reduce a child’s risk of severe cold and flu complications

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The cold and flu season is just beginning and Helen DeVos Children's Hospital is already seeing more cases of respiratory viruses.

Pediatricians say now is a good time to start talking about respiratory virus season because there is still time to take precautions to reduce the risk of serious complications.

Dr. Kira Sieplinga, the division chief of pediatrics with Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, and her team are preparing for a long cold and flu season.

"We are already seeing cases of respiratory viruses going up," Sieplinga said. "RSV is our No. 1 cause of hospitalization during the winter months hands down for pediatric and children's hospitals."

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It is the second year an RSV vaccine is available to protect infants.

"The vaccine is given to the mother when she's pregnant and that allows her to make immunoglobulins that protects the baby against RSV. The RSV product that we can deliver to our infants is also an immunoglobulin so it's not quite a vaccine, but it offers additional protection," Sieplinga said.

Most adults are able to fight off RSV but seniors and children have a higher risk of severe complications.

"For infants who have very small bronchioles, so those are the breathing tubes that go out to the lungs, this can cause severe inflammation and spasms of those breathing tubes. It makes it every difficult for the infants to breathe and feed and so that's what usually leads them to be hospitalized," Sieplinga said.

Flu and COVID-19 can also result in severe complications for children.

Dr. Sieplinga said vaccination can help keep kids from needing emergency care.

"We recommend that every child gets an updated vaccine for influenza and COVID every season because it includes some strains that were circulating in the community last year and the predicted strains for this upcoming year," Sieplinga said.

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The children's hospital sees respiratory virus season typically peak in late fall or early winter.

"These past few years we've had to open additional beds, call in extra staff during the winter, so the team here at Helen DeVos Children's is prepared for that in our outpatient facilities we also prepare," Sieplinga said.

While some children just need to be kept home with rest and plenty of fluids, there are signs doctors look for if they need emergency care, including having persistent high fevers for five days.

"If there's any signs or symptoms of dehydration, so your child is having trouble taking their typical amount of fluids. They have decreased urine output, decreased tears or decreased saliva, they may need additional support and then finally signs of respiratory distress so this is breathing really fast, breathing hard," Sieplinga said.

Sieplinga said parents should talk to their child's pediatrician.

Doctors say now is a good time to get vaccinated, so the vaccines have time to work and provide protection through the winter season.