Respiratory illnesses have been more prevalent than usual this year. In particular, cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, have been spiking recently nationwide.

According to Dr. Megan Nash, a Butler Health System family care physician at Slippery Rock Family Medicine, anyone can get RSV, but its symptoms are most severe in children younger than age 5, and the sickness is especially dangerous for babies.

“Especially premature infants or those with lung issues are the biggest people at risk of having complications from it,” Nash said. “You often get a runny nose, you don't want to eat a lot, coughing leads to wheezing. For young kids, they may have apnea, they pause when they breathe.”

The effects of COVID-19 guidelines helped cut down on the spread of respiratory illnesses the past two years, Nash said. In turn, fewer immune systems may have been exposed to some of the other viruses circulating, which may be why more RSV cases are being reported.

“We were trying to not get COVID, but our bodies weren't exposed to a lot of different viruses,” Nash said. “Colds in general seem to be a lot worse this year.”

Nash said it is difficult to pinpoint a time parents should take their child to a doctor for potential RSV, but nasal flaring, heavy neck contractions and seeing a child struggling to breathe could be signs that they should see a doctor.

Dr. Raymond Pitetti, director of the emergency department at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, said in a video posted Monday that an irregular number of children have been admitted recently for RSV. The hospital set up a tent at its Lawrenceville location to handle an influx of RSV patients.

Pitetti also said in the video that the emergency department staff is prepared to handle patients who come in with potential respiratory illness.

“We’re trying to be as proactive as we can, making sure we have the resources in place to take care of any surges,” Pitetti said. “Every child when they come into the emergency department, when they first walk through the doors are going to be seen by a triage nurse. That nurse … will make a determination on whether they need to be seen right away.”

The period of January to March is typically when the flu spreads through communities, but the virus can be spread throughout the year.

Nash said the flu can spread more easily any time people are gathered in proximity, and hospitals often see a spike in cases during the winter holiday season.

“We have already seen some cases of the flu,” Nash said. “Getting that flu shot now is good, because everybody is going to be gathering, and you want to be protected.”

While COVID-19 cases are down in Butler County compared to last year, Nash said the statistics may not be accurate because of the availability of home tests this year.

“Most people are doing home tests and not reporting it. Hospital numbers are down, but I don't believe we have an accurate number of cases,” Nash said. “People can make the decision based on their test to say I'm not going to work today.”

Nash said the other ways people can prevent the spread of illness are to practice common sense measures, including those that were recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“You have a cold, stop touching your face, wash your hands, if you are sick you want to stay away from other folks,” Nash said. “You want to cough into your elbow, stay home if you are really sick, just these common everyday things.”