Pediatric pneumonia cases requiring hospitalization are up 30% in Central Virginia. While not a cause for panic, it does call for caution.
“Initial investigations suggest this may be due to a rise in rhinovirus/enterovirus and harkens back to the last time we saw this phenomenon which was in 2014 during the EVD68 outbreak,” said Dr. Christopher Doern, director of microbiology at VCU Health. “I don't have any speculation as to why this is only being observed in Central Virginia and would be surprised if it doesn't soon disseminate to the rest of the region and beyond.”
In addition to increased Mycoplasma infections (atypical bacterial pneumonia), community acquired bacterial infections, we’re also seeing a spike in rhinovirus/enterovirus infections. These are two types of the many respiratory viral infections that typically rise this time of year with back to school, weather changes and increased pollen counts. It may be that there’s a new strain of rhinovirus or enterovirus that is more virulent than in the past, something that occurs every 6-10 years. We know viral infections can also lead to bacterial pneumonias (typical or atypical).
These children are provided supportive care in the hospital, which varies depending on their specific symptoms and needs. It may include hydration via IV or by mouth, or oral hydration via nasogastric tube (tube from nose to stomach) for children who can’t take liquids by mouth. Oral is always preferred especially now with the shortage of IV fluids due to Hurricane Helene storm damage. They may also receive oxygen through a nasal cannula, mask or in very severe cases a ventilator (with a tube from the mouth into the breathing passages).
Antibiotics are an important component of care if a bacterial infection is suspected. We’ll also give steroids and albuterol to patients who experience an asthma attack in addition to their pneumonia.
It’s likely to worsen with pollen and mold counts rising, colder weather keeping everyone inside and the holidays bringing people together. Asthma is triggered by infection and cold weather, so we often see patients with asthma needing extra care this time of year as well.
Not all cases of respiratory illness require care in a medical setting. That said, if you notice any of the following symptoms, we urge you to check with the pediatrician if possible or bring your child to the emergency room:
If your child has asthma, cough with wheezing, needing more than four breathing treatments per day, and working hard to breathe with no response to breathing treatments would all warrant medical assessment and care.
For mild symptoms, we encourage lots of liquids and Tylenol or Motrin for pain relief. Honey can help decrease cough but should only be given to children over 1 year of age (there’s a risk of botulism in little ones with immature digestive tracts). Children with asthma should follow their asthma action plan instructions.
If symptoms begin to cause concern, seek medical care right away.
Infection prevention measures are essential, including:
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